PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 50-100% Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: See Disease Characteristics Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL (unless related to Gilbert's disease or due to leukemic infiltration) SGOT and SGPT no greater than 4 times upper limit of normal (unless related to AML) Renal: Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL (unless related to AML) Cardiovascular: Left ventricular function normal No significant cardiovascular disease (e.g., unstable cardiac arrhythmias or unstable angina pectoris) No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease No active ischemia by EKG Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study No active serious infection not controlled by antimicrobial therapy No other active malignancy requiring therapy Medically stable No significant organ dysfunction