Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Leukemia

You may be eligible if

• 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