DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase No chromosomal abnormalities other than a single Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) and less than 10% blasts in bone marrow and peripheral blood OR Diagnosis of CML in accelerated phase Must meet 1 of the following criteria: More than 10% and less than 30% myeloblasts plus promyelocytes in bone marrow or peripheral blood Major perturbations of WBC, platelet count, or hematocrit uncontrolled by chemotherapy with busulfan or hydroxyurea Progressive splenomegaly Extramedullary tumor Presence of any nonconstitutional cytogenetic abnormality in addition to a single Ph chromosome Persistent unexplained fever or bone pain Ph positive OR bcr/abl positive by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction or Southern blot No CML in blast phase