DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Primary or therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome: Refractory anemia with excess blasts Refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia Refractory anemia, refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts, or refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia These patients must also have one of the following criteria: Greater than 4 units of RBCs transfused within the past 3 months OR Platelet count less than 50,000/mm3 OR Neutrophil count less than 1,000/mm3 AND a recent infection requiring antibiotics