Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)

- Refractory anemia

- Primary refractory leukopenia or thrombocytopenia with morphologic features of
MDS

- Refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB)

- Refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts

- RAEB in transformation

- Must have excess blasts or be hematopoietically compromised, defined as one of
the following:

- RBC transfusion dependent

- Granulocyte count less than 1,000/mm^3

- Platelet count less than 50,000/mm^3 OR

- Diagnosis of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia

- Hematopoietically compromised (as defined above) OR

- Excess blasts OR

- Evaluable disease related symptomatology (organomegaly or leukemia cutis) OR

- Diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia

- WBC less than 20,000/mm^3 and stable for at least 2 weeks

- Unlikely to require cytotoxic therapy during study

- No CNS or pulmonary leukostasis or CNS leukemia

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- Zubrod 0-2

Life expectancy:

- Not specified

Hematopoietic:

- See Disease Characteristics

- Hemoglobin at least 8 g/dL (transfusion allowed)

- No disseminated intravascular coagulation

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL (unless due to hemolysis or Gilbert's syndrome)

Renal:

- Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL

Other:

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception for 2 weeks prior, during, and for
3 months after study

- No active infection

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 3 weeks since prior biologic therapy, including hematopoietic growth
factors, and recovered

Chemotherapy:

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 3 weeks (1 month for MDS patients) since prior chemotherapy and recovered

Endocrine therapy:

- Not specified

Radiotherapy:

- At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

- Not specified