MS-275 in Treating Patients With Hematologic Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* One of the following histologically confirmed diagnoses:

  * Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

    * Newly diagnosed de novo AML in patients over 60 years old with the following poor-risk features:

      * Antecedent hematologic disorder
      * Complex karyotype or other adverse cytogenetics
      * Stem cell immunophenotype
    * AML arising from myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)
    * Secondary AML
    * Relapsed or refractory AML, including primary induction failure
  * MDS

    * Poor-risk, defined as the following:

      * International Performance Score at least 1.5
      * More than 10% marrow blasts
      * Cytopenias in at least 2 lineages
    * Refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB)
    * RAEB in transformation
    * Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
  * Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)

    * Newly diagnosed de novo ALL in patients over 60 years old with the following poor-risk features:

      * Complex karyotype or other adverse cytogenetics
      * Mixed lineage immunophenotype
    * Relapsed or refractory ALL, including primary induction failure
  * Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)

    * CML in accelerated phase or blast crisis
    * Interferon-refractory CML in chronic phase
  * Multiple myeloma (MM)

    * Relapsed or refractory, including prior autologous stem cell transplantation
  * Acute promyelocytic leukemia

    * Prior treatment with tretinoin
    * Ineligible for arsenic trioxide
    * No evidence of active coagulopathy
    * Low-risk for developing clinically significant coagulopathy during study

      * Low tumor burden by marrow aspiration at time of relapse
      * No prior coagulation-related sequelae (deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or CNS thrombosis or bleed)
* Failure after primary induction therapy or relapse after complete remission allowed if patient received no more than 3 courses of prior induction/reinduction therapy
* Not eligible for curative stem cell transplantation
* No hyperleukocytosis with at least 50,000/mm\^3 leukemic blasts
* No active CNS leukemia
* No plasma cell leukemia
* No amyloidosis resulting in major organ dysfunction

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

* Not specified

Hematopoietic:

* See Disease Characteristics
* No disseminated intravascular coagulation
* No hyperviscosity

Hepatic:

* AST/ALT no greater than 2 times normal
* Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times normal
* Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times normal
* No uncorrected hypercalcemia

Cardiovascular:

* See Disease Characteristics
* LVEF at least 45% by MUGA or echocardiogram
* No intrinsic impaired cardiac function, including any of the following:

  * Myocardial infarction within the past 3 months
  * Prior severe coronary artery disease
  * Cardiomyopathy
  * Congestive heart failure

Other:

* No active uncontrolled infection
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 1 week since prior growth factors (epoetin alfa, filgrastim \[G-CSF\], sargramostim \[GM-CSF\], interleukin \[IL\]-3, or IL-11)
* At least 4 weeks since prior autologous stem cell transplantation
* No prior allogeneic stem cell transplantation
* No concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered
* At least 24 hours since prior hydroxyurea or mercaptopurine for prevention of leukostasis
* No concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

* Not specified

Radiotherapy:

* At least 2 weeks since prior emergency radiotherapy to large soft tissue or lytic bony lesions for MM
* No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

* Not specified

Other:

* At least 24 hours since other prior noncytotoxic agents for prevention of leukostasis
* No other concurrent antitumor therapy