Homoharringtonine and Interferon Alfa in Treating Patients With Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in chronic phase
• Clonal evolution (i.e., the presence of clones other than the Ph chromosome) allowed Ph chromosome variants or complex Ph chromosome translocations are not considered disease acceleration
• Ineligible for known therapy of higher efficacy or priority
• Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation should be considered priority therapy for CML patients with a matched related donor
• No blastic phase CML (30% or more blasts in peripheral blood or bone marrow)
• No accelerated phase CML, defined as any of the following: 15% or more peripheral or marrow blasts or 30% or more blasts and promyelocytes 20% or more peripheral or marrow basophils
• Thrombocytopenia (platelets less than 100,000) unrelated to therapy
• Documented extramedullary disease outside of liver or spleen

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Age: 15 and over
• Performance status: Zubrod 0-2
• Life expectancy: Sufficient to fully evaluate the effects of 2 courses of therapy
• Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
• SGOT less than 300
• Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min
• No severe heart disease (class III/IV)
• No pregnant or nursing women
• Effective contraception required of fertile women

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• No prior interferon alpha
• At least 2 weeks since antileukemic therapy, with recovery required
• Patients who received hydroxyurea within the past 2 weeks and have WBC greater than 50,000 may enter protocol after discussion with the primary investigator