DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) that may have been primary AML, secondary AML, or preceded by hematologic disorder All FAB subtypes except M3 Must meet one of the following three criteria: First relapse within 1 year after documentation of a previous complete remission (CR) achieved by chemotherapy Refractory to prior chemotherapy comprised of a minimum of 1 induction course, including cytarabine at a minimum of 500 mg/m2 (e.g., 100 mg/m2/day for 5 days) plus an anthracycline No high dose cytarabine (no cumulative dose greater than 3 g/m2) First relapse from a previous CR with subsequent autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT), only if all of the following criteria are met: First BMT At least 100 days but less than 1 year posttransplantation At least 25% cellularity of the bone marrow Previous BMT included full hematopoietic recovery, defined by all of the following: Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL (without transfusion) Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 (without transfusion) Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 No transplantation candidates Bone marrow blasts (leukemic cells) greater than 10% No chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis No active CNS leukemia