Imatinib Mesylate Plus Cytarabine in Treating Patients With Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Cytogenetically confirmed chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
• * Less than 15% blasts in peripheral blood or bone marrow
• * Less than 30% blasts and promyelocytes in peripheral blood or bone marrow
• * Less than 20% basophils in blood or bone marrow
• * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Philadelphia chromosome positive
• No more than 6 months since initial diagnosis
• No presence of leukemia beyond the bone marrow, blood, liver, or spleen (i.e., chloroma)
• Refused allogeneic stem cell transplantation as first-line therapy
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST or ALT no greater than 2 times ULN
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• Cardiovascular:
• No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for at least 3 months after study participation
• No other serious uncontrolled medical condition
• No history of noncompliance to medical regimens or potential unreliability
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior biologic therapy for CML
• Chemotherapy:
• No prior chemotherapy for CML except hydroxyurea
• Concurrent hydroxyurea to control blood counts during first 3 months of treatment allowed
• No other concurrent chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• No prior endocrine therapy for CML
• Radiotherapy:
• No prior radiotherapy for CML
• Surgery:
• Not specified
• Other:
• More than 28 days since prior investigational anticancer agents
• Prior anagrelide hydrochloride for CML allowed
• Concurrent anagrelide hydrochloride to control blood counts during first 3 months of treatment allowed
• No concurrent grapefruit juice or grapefruit