DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), as defined by the following:

  • Less than 15% blasts in the peripheral blood (PB) or bone marrow (BM)
  • Less than 20% basophils in the PB or BM
  • Platelet count > 100,000/mm^3 (unless related to therapy)
  • Absence of clonal evolution* NOTE: * Patients with variant Philadelphia chromosome or deletions of chromosome Y (-Y) are eligible if there is no chromosomal change representing clonal evolution
• Philadelphia chromosome- OR BCR/ABL-positive disease by cytogenetics, fluorescence in situ hybridization, or polymerase chain reaction

• Failed prior therapy with imatinib mesylate, as defined by any of the following:

  • Failed to achieve or have lost a complete hematologic remission after 3 months of therapy
  • Failed to achieve or have lost at least a minimal cytogenetic response after 6 months of therapy
  • Failed to achieve or have lost a major or complete cytogenetic response after 12 months of therapy
  • Unable to tolerate imatinib mesylate despite adequate dose adjustment

• Failed no more than 2 prior treatment regimens (in addition to imatinib mesylate)

  • Treatment with hydroxyurea is not considered one regimen
• Ineligible for known regimens or protocols of higher efficacy or priority

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 12 and over

Performance status:

• Zubrod 0-2

Life expectancy:

• At least 2 months

Hematopoietic:

• See Disease Characteristics

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL

Renal:

• Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

• No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• Not specified

Surgery

• Not specified

Other

• See Disease Characteristics