PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: At least 3 months Hematopoietic: See Disease Characteristics No hereditary hemolytic disorders Transferrin saturation greater than 20% Ferritin at least 50 ng/mL Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 3 mg/dL AST/ALT and LDH less than 2 times upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine less than 2 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No significant cardiovascular disorders (unrelated to MDS) No uncontrolled hypertension Pulmonary: No significant pulmonary disorders (unrelated to MDS) Neurologic: No significant neurologic disorders (unrelated to MDS) No history of epilepsy Metabolic: No significant endocrine disorders (unrelated to MDS) Other: Not pregnant or nursing No significant gastrointestinal diseases (unrelated to MDS) or GI blood loss No significant genitourinary system diseases (unrelated to MDS) No active infection requiring IV antibiotic therapy No other serious illness or medical condition Not HIV positive Not hepatitis B surface antigen positive No iron, vitamin B12, or folate deficiencies No autoimmune disease No prior or concurrent malignancy within 2 years except in situ carcinoma of the cervix or basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin