Gemcitabine in Treating Children With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Diagnosis of relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia or acute myelogenous leukemia
• * M3 marrow (at least 25% blasts in bone marrow aspirate)
• * Refractory to conventional therapy
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 21 and under at diagnosis
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-2 OR
• Zubrod 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• At least 2 months
• Hematopoietic:
• Not specified
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin normal
• SGOT or SGPT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal
• Renal:
• Creatinine normal OR
• Creatinine clearance or radioisotope glomerular filtration rate at least 70 mL/min
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• No concurrent immunomodulating agents
• Chemotherapy:
• At least 2 weeks since prior chemotherapy
• No other concurrent chemotherapy for cancer
• Endocrine therapy:
• No concurrent corticosteroids except for treatment of adrenal crises with suppressed pituitary/adrenal response
• Concurrent low-dose hydrocortisone (less than 100 mg/m2) allowed for allergic reactions to amphotericin or transfusions
• Radiotherapy:
• Concurrent radiotherapy to localized painful lesions allowed
• Surgery:
• Not specified
• Other:
• Recovered from any prior therapy