OUTLINE: Patients receive debulking therapy consisting of hydroxyurea until blood count is at proper level. Patients then receive interferon alfa and cytarabine daily by subcutaneous injection. Homoharringtonine is administered by continuous infusion on days 1-5. Treatment continues for 5-7 years in the absence of unacceptable toxicity or disease progression (accelerated or blastic phase CML). If complete remission is achieved, peripheral blood stem cells are collected. Patients are followed every 3 months for the first year and every 6 months thereafter.