OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the complete response rate to high-intensity, brief-duration chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone followed by ifosfamide, methotrexate, vincristine, cytarabine, etoposide, and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or refractory acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). II. Determine the toxic effects of these regimens in these patients.