DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in the following categories: Refractory to initial standard therapy consisting of idarubicin/cytarabine and amsacrin/cytarabine (on protocol HOVON 29) First or subsequent relapse following complete response to standard chemotherapy (on protocols HOVON 4/4A or 11 or any other protocol) At least 6 months between mitoxantrone/etoposide and relapse No myelodysplasia