OBJECTIVES:
* Assess the clinical outcomes, survival, and morbidity of patients with chronic or accelerated phase chronic myelogenous leukemia when treated with cyclophosphamide and filgrastim (G-CSF) followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.
* Determine whether priming with cyclophosphamide and filgrastim (G-CSF) increases the fraction of benign Philadelphia chromosome negative hematopoietic progenitors in peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) and reduces the incidence of persistent or recurrent leukemia after autologous transplantation with mobilized PBSC in these patients.
OUTLINE: Patients receive priming therapy consisting of cyclophosphamide IV over 2 hours on day 1 and filgrastim (G-CSF) daily subcutaneously (SQ) starting on day 5 and continuing until completion of leukapheresis. Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) are collected between days 14-21.
Patients then receive preparative therapy for transplant consisting of cyclophosphamide IV over 2 hours on days -7 and -6 and total body irradiation twice a day on days -4 through -1. Patients receive the PBSC transplantation on day 0. Patients also receive G-CSF IV starting on day 0 and continuing until blood counts recover. Patients then receive interferon alfa SQ daily in the absence of unacceptable toxicity or disease progression.
Patients are followed at 3 weeks; then at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 months; and then annually for 5 years.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Not specified