DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in blast crisis, defined by at least one of the following: 30% blasts in peripheral blood and/or bone marrow Flow cytometry criteria Extramedullary disease other than spleen, lymph node, and/or liver involvement Newly diagnosed CML in blast crisis OR CML in blast crisis with prior therapy for accelerated or blastic phases Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome positive OR Ph chromosome negative and Bcr/Abl positive