High-Dose Cytarabine Plus Deoxycytidine in Treating With Acute Myelogenous Leukemia or Other Hematologic Malignancies

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: One of the following histologically documented hematologic malignancies: Acute myelogenous leukemia Failed or relapsed following conventional dose chemotherapy (e.g., doxorubicin, cytarabine) or high dose cytarabine (HD ARA-C) Chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis that has failed at least 1 conventional antileukemic regimen Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that is relapsed following or initially refractory to conventional therapy Failed at least 1 salvage regimen for ALL Disease refractory to conventional HD ARA-C allowed Primarily refractory or relapsed Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Failed at least 1 conventional second or third generation regimen (e.g., ProMACE-CytaBOM) Refractory multiple myeloma Not eligible for protocols of higher priority and no alternative forms of therapy available that offer a reasonable chance of palliation or cure

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 50-100% Life expectancy: At least 8 weeks Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 3 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine clearance at least 40 mL/min Pulmonary: Pulse oximetry greater than 88% in patients with a history of pulmonary disease Other: No major concurrent disease that renders patient a poor medical risk No uncontrolled infection Disease related fever allowed at investigator's discretion No mental incapacity that precludes informed consent No incarcerated patients Not pregnant Effective contraception required of fertile women

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Not specified Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (24 hours since hydroxyurea) and recovered Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No prior radiotherapy to 30% or more of bone marrow At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery: Not specified