Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Diagnosis of chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia

- Philadelphia chromosome positive

- Peripheral blast count no greater than 10%

- No molecular remission

- Less than 3 years since initial diagnosis

- No anticipation of requirement for bone marrow or stem cell transplantation for 6
months

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

- Not specified

Hematopoietic:

- Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL

- Platelet count at least 20,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin less than 2.0 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- Transaminase less than 2.0 times ULN

Renal:

- Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL

Other:

- Not pregnant

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No significant active infection requiring hospitalization

- No other serious illness or significant behavioral or psychological problem that
would preclude study involvement

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- See Disease Characteristics

- Prior interferon alfa allowed

- No concurrent interferon alfa

Chemotherapy:

- Prior cytarabine or other cytotoxic agents allowed

- No concurrent cytarabine or other cytotoxic agents

- Concurrent hydroxyurea allowed

Endocrine therapy:

- No concurrent corticosteroid therapy

Radiotherapy:

- Not specified

Surgery:

- Not specified

Other:

- No concurrent immunosuppressive medications

- Concurrent imatinib mesylate allowed