Tipifarnib in Treating Patients With Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia, or Undifferentiated Myeloproliferative Disorders

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: * To describe the toxicities of R115777 (tipifarnib) in adult patients with myeloproliferative disorders. * To assess hematologic responses, including changes in white blood cell count and erythroid responses. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: * To assess bone marrow cytogenetic responses to R115777. * To analyze for the presence of neuroblastoma (N)/Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (K-Ras) mutations in patient bone marrow samples. * To analyze the effect of R115777 on Ras /DnaJ (Hsp40) homolog, subfamily A, member 1(HDJ-2) farnesylation in patient bone marrow/peripheral blood mononuclear cells. * To analyze the effect of R115777 on mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation in patient bone marrow mononuclear cells. * To perform colony forming unit granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) cytotoxicity assays using patients' hematopoietic cells with R115777. OUTLINE: Patients receive tipifarnib orally (PO) twice daily (BID) on days 1-21. Treatment repeats every 28 days for up to 4 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients achieving a good hematologic response may continue treatment at the discretion of the treating physician.