DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: One of the following hematologic conditions: Chronic phase or advanced chronic myelogenous leukemia Acute lymphoblastic leukemia: -relapsed -in second remission or later -in first remission with unfavorable prognostic features Acute myelogenous leukemia: -in second remission or later -in first remission with high-risk features Detectable clonal cytogenetic or molecular abnormality at time of diagnosis Not eligible for allogenic bone marrow transplant