6-Hydroxymethylacylfulvene in Treating Patients With Refractory Myelodysplastic Syndrome, Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, or Blastic Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of refractory myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphocytic leukemia, or blastic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia MDS and AML include:

  • First salvage with primary refractory disease or first complete remission of no more than 12 months
  • Second or greater salvage
• After the maximum tolerated dose is determined, AML patients with an intermediate prognosis (i.e., complete remission of more than 12 months, but less than 24 months) are eligible
• No candidates for curative therapies such as allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Age: 18 and over
• Performance status: Zubrod 0-2
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min
• No active congestive heart failure
• No uncontrolled angina
• No myocardial infarction within past 6 months
• No concurrent grade 4 infection
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No overt psychosis, mental disability, or other incompetency that would preclude obtaining informed consent
• No life threatening nonmalignant illness

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• At least 2 weeks since prior biologic therapy and recovered
• No concurrent systemic anticancer biologic therapy
• At least 2 weeks since other prior chemotherapy and recovered
• Concurrent hydroxyurea allowed if needed to control blast counts
• No concurrent systemic anticancer chemotherapy
• At least 2 weeks since prior endocrine therapy and recovered
• Concurrent corticosteroids allowed if needed to control blast counts
• At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• No concurrent systemic radiotherapy
• No concurrent surgery
• At least 3 weeks since other prior investigational drugs (including analgesics or antiemetics) and recovered
• No other concurrent investigational drugs