Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Diagnosis of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)

- Myelomonocytic (M4) or monocytic (M5) subtype

- In second complete remission (CR) or later following CR1 lasting ≤ 12 months
after chemotherapy that may have included an intensification regimen followed by
autologous transplantation

- No (15;17) translocation

- No AML M3

- HLA-A2 positivity

- CD14 ≥ 20% on peripheral blood mononuclear cells

- Circulating blasts ≥ 10 x 109/L (collected prior to chemotherapy) available

- Must not be eligible for HLA-matched allogeneic transplantation

- No progressive disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- Karnofsky performance status 70-100%

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No contraindication to cytopheresis or chemotherapy

- No HIV or HTLV positivity

- No hepatitis B or C activation

- No prior psychological disease

- Not deprived of liberty and able to give consent

- Must be able to speak and read French

- No other cancer except for basal cell or cervical

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- See Disease Characteristics

- No concurrent participation in another clinical study