Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Acute myelogenous leukemia (M0-M7) and acute lymphoblastic
leukemia (L1-L2) Refractory or in first or subsequent relapse Circulating blasts present
OR Greater than 5% blasts in bone marrow Acute myelogenous leukemia secondary to
myelodysplastic syndrome or cytotoxic therapy Untreated OR Maximum of 2 intensive
induction regimens Chronic myelogenous leukemia in blastic or lymphoid crisis Untreated OR
Maximum of 2 intensive induction regimens No CNS leukemia

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: ECOG 0-3 Life expectancy: At
least 4 weeks Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
AST and ALT less than 3 times normal Alkaline phosphatase less than 3 times normal Renal:
Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min
Cardiovascular: No myocardial infarction within 6 months No active ischemic cardiac
disease No poorly controlled congestive heart failure No other symptomatic cardiac disease
Left ventricular ejection fraction at least 40% Pulmonary: No symptomatic restrictive or
obstructive lung disease Other: No severe neurologic disease No active infection unless
stable on antimicrobial therapy or fever is tumor related HIV negative Not pregnant or
nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: At least 2 weeks since prior cytotoxic therapy (except
hydroxyurea and steroids) Biologic therapy: No prior bone marrow transplantation At least
3 days since prior hematopoietic growth factors Chemotherapy: No prior topotecan or
camptothecin analogues Prior etoposide allowed Endocrine therapy: Not specified
Radiotherapy: Not specified Surgery: Not specified