Sargramostim in Treating Patients With Chronic Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Who Are Not in Complete Cytogenetic Remission Following Initial Treatment

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
• * Presence of t(9;22)(q34;q11) with at least 20 cells examined in metaphase by cytogenetic examination of the bone marrow
• Complete hematologic remission during prior therapy\* as seen on 2 separate blood count analyses, defined by the following:
• * WBC no greater than 10,000/mm\^3 AND platelet count no greater than 450,000/mm\^3
• * Disappearance of all signs and symptoms of disease, including palpable splenomegaly
• * Normal differential counts (i.e., absence of blasts, promyelocytes, myelocytes, and metamyelocytes) NOTE: \*Continuation of therapy that led to complete hematologic remission is required during study participation
• Persistent cytogenetic disease despite 12 months of prior imatinib mesylate therapy, which may have included a trial dose-escalation OR intolerant of imatinib mesylate at a dose greater than 400 mg/day
• Not in complete cytogenetic remission within 30 days of study entry
• * Persistent Philadelphia chromosome by bone marrow exam
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• 18 and over
• Performance status
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy
• More than 6 months
• Hematopoietic
• See Disease Characteristics
• Hepatic
• Not specified
• Renal
• Not specified
• Other
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No uncontrolled active infective
• No serious medical or psychiatric illness that would prevent giving informed consent or limit survival to less than 6 months
• No other malignancy not in remission except curatively treated basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• Prior sargramostim (GM-CSF) allowed
• Prior interferon alfa for CML allowed
• No prior stem cell transplantation
• Concurrent interferon alfa\* for CML allowed NOTE: \*No dose increase during study participation
• Chemotherapy
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• No concurrent radiotherapy
• Surgery
• At least 4 weeks since prior surgery
• Other
• Prior imatinib mesylate for CML allowed
• No other concurrent medication for CML
• Concurrent imatinib mesylate\* for CML allowed NOTE: \*No dose increase during study participation