OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the safety profile of STI571 in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis. II. Provide expanded access of this treatment to these patients. III. Determine the rate of hematological response and duration of response in patients treated with this regimen. IV. Determine the improvements in symptomatic parameters in patients treated with this regimen. V. Determine the cytogenetic response in patients treated with this regimen. VI. Determine the overall survival in patients treated with this regimen.