Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Diagnosis of T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia

- Increased numbers of large granular lymphocytes in peripheral blood smears

- CD3+CD8+CD57+ immunophenotype by flow cytometry AND

- CD3+CD57+ cell count at least 2,000/mm^3 OR

- CD3+CD57+ cell count at least 500/mm^3 with clonal T-cell receptor beta gene
rearrangement

- Patients must have at least 1 of the following:

- Severe neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count (ANC) less than 500/mm^3)

- Neutropenia (ANC less than 1,000/mm^3) and recurrent infections

- Anemia (hemoglobin less than 9 g/dL)

- Thrombocytopenia (platelet count less than 50,000/mm^3)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- NCI CTC 0-3

Life expectancy:

- Not specified

Hematopoietic:

- See Disease Characteristics

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

Renal:

- Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN

Other:

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- Not specified

Chemotherapy:

- No concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

- No concurrent hormonal therapy except steroids for adrenal failure or hormones for
nondisease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes)

- No concurrent dexamethasone or other steroidal antiemetics

Radiotherapy:

- Not specified

Surgery:

- Not specified

Other:

- No prior cyclosporine therapy for this leukemia