Gene Expression During Chemotherapy in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treated With Choline Magnesium Trisalicylate

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed acute myeloid leukemia

  * Newly diagnosed disease
* Presence of cytogenetic abnormalities must be determined by standard cytogenetics with or without FISH studies
* Leukemic blast count \> 5,000/mm³ of peripheral blood
* No acute promyelocytic leukemia (M3)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* ECOG performance status 0-3
* Bilirubin \< 2.0 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* AST \< 3.0 times ULN
* Creatinine \< 1.5 times ULN
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No uncontrolled psychiatric illness that, in the opinion of the principal investigator, would preclude study compliance
* No other concurrent medical condition that would preclude study compliance
* No allergies to any investigational drugs and/or chemotherapeutic agents
* No upper or lower gastrointestinal (GI) related hemorrhage within the past 6 months as determined by endoscopy

  * No clinical diagnosis of GI bleeding requiring blood transfusions

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* No prior induction therapy
* No prior chemotherapy for acute leukemia
* No concurrent medications that would preclude study compliance