GTI-2040 in Treating Patients With Relapsed, Refractory, or High-Risk Acute Leukemia, High-Grade Myelodysplastic Syndromes, or Refractory or Blastic Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

You may be eligible if

• Diagnosis of 1 of the following:
• * Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) refractory to primary standard induction therapy
• * Relapsed or refractory acute leukemia
• * Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in blast crisis at diagnosis OR that failed prior aggressive induction chemotherapy
• Diagnosis of 1 of the following:
• * Acute leukemia secondary to preexisting hematologic condition or prior chemotherapy at diagnosis OR that failed prior aggressive induction chemotherapy
• * Advanced myelodysplastic syndromes (intermediate-1 or greater)
• * De novo acute leukemia (myeloid or nonmyeloid)
• Not a candidate for aggressive standard induction chemotherapy
• De novo AML or ALL (patients \> 60 years of age)
• No suspected or proven active CNS leukemia
• ECOG performance status (PS) 0-2 OR Karnofsky PS 50-100%
• Life expectancy \>= 8 weeks
• Bilirubin =\< 1.5 mg/dL
• AST and ALT \< 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Creatinine =\< 1.5 times ULN
• No HIV positivity
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No history of allergic reactions attributed to other phosphorothiolated oligonucleotides
• No uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, any of the following:
• * Ongoing, active, or poorly controlled infection
• * Symptomatic congestive heart failure
• * Unstable angina pectoris
• No uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, any of the following:
• * Cardiac arrhythmia
• * Poorly controlled pulmonary disease
• * Psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
• Recovered from all prior therapies
• Prior autologous or allogeneic stem cell transplantation allowed (No active graft-vs-host disease \> grade 2)
• At least 2 weeks since prior and no concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy
• At least 2 weeks since prior and no concurrent biologic therapy
• At least 2 weeks since any other prior investigational agent
• No other concurrent anticancer therapy, including radiotherapy or hormonal therapy
• Concurrent imatinib mesylate for CML allowed
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregancy test