Alvocidib, Cytarabine, and Mitoxantrone in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine the efficacy and toxicities of flavopiridol (alvocidib) followed by ara-C and mitoxantrone in adults with newly diagnosed acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) with poor-risk features. II. To determine the disease free and overall survival of patients exhibiting a response to treatment with flavopiridol followed by ara-C and mitoxantrone. OUTLINE: Patients receive alvocidib IV over 1 hour on days 1-3, cytarabine IV continuously over 72 hours on days 6-8, and mitoxantrone hydrochloride IV over 1-2 hours on day 9. Beginning 35-63 days after completion of course 1, patients achieving complete or partial remission may receive a second course of treatment as above. Patients age 50 and over with "core binding factor" acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (e.g., t\[8;21\], inv\[16\], or t\[16;16\]) achieving a complete remission after course 1 of treatment may receive 3-4 courses of consolidation therapy comprising high-dose cytarabine at the discretion of the investigator. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed periodically.