Azacitidine Plus Phenylbutyrate in Treating Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia or Myelodysplastic Syndrome

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) indicating one of the following:

  * Refractory anemia (RA)
  * Primary refractory leukopenia or thrombocytopenia with MDS morphology
  * RA with excess blasts (RAEB)
  * RA with ringed sideroblasts (RARS)
  * Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
  * RAEB in transformation
* RA or RARS must have at least one of the following:

  * Absolute neutrophil count less than 1,000/mm\^3
  * Untransfused hemoglobin less than 8 g/dL
  * Platelet count less than 20,000/mm\^3
  * Anemia
  * Thrombocytopenia requiring transfusion
  * High risk chromosomal abnormalities
* Any stage of MDS allowed including:

  * Previously untreated MDS
  * Refractory MDS allowed if failure to achieve remission following prior intensive chemotherapy of at least 1 month ago
* Relapsed, refractory, or untreated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with the following:

  * WBC less than 30,000/mm\^3
  * Stable for at least 2 weeks
  * Unlikely to require cytotoxic therapy during study
* Untreated AML with poor risk factors for response to standard therapy including:

  * Greater than 60 years old
  * AML occurs in setting of antecedent hematologic disorder
  * High risk chromosomes (e.g., abnormalities of chromosome 5 or 7 or complex cytogenetic abnormalities)
  * Medical conditions that preclude cytotoxic chemotherapy as primary therapy
* Refusal of cytotoxic chemotherapy allowed
* No clinical evidence of CNS leukostasis or CNS leukemia

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* Zubrod 0-2

Life expectancy:

* Not specified

Hematopoietic:

* See Disease Characteristics
* Hemoglobin at least 8 g/dL (transfusion allowed)

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL (unless due to hemolysis or Gilbert's disease)

Renal:

* Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

* No disseminated intravascular coagulation

Pulmonary:

* No pulmonary leukostasis

Other:

* No active infection
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception 2 weeks prior, during and 3 months after study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* At least 3 weeks since prior biologic therapy including colony stimulating factors and recovered

Chemotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered

Endocrine therapy:

* At least 3 weeks since prior hormonal therapy and recovered

Radiotherapy:

* At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

* Not specified