Imatinib Mesylate, Daunorubicin, and Cytarabine in Treating Patients With Relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukemia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Bone marrow biopsy confirming acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

No M3 AML

Patient must have relapsed to standard chemotherapy

Patients who relapse within six months of response to treatment or those who never responded to an anthracycline/cytarabine combination will be excluded
At least 20% of peripheral blood or bone marrow blasts positive for c-kit
No evidence of leptomeningeal involvement

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

ECOG Performance Status 0-2
Liver enzymes (AST and ALT) and total bilirubin ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal
Serum creatinine ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal

No New York Heart Association grade III or IV cardiac problems

Defined as congestive heart failure or myocardial infraction within the past 6 months
No known chronic liver disease (i.e., chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis)
No serious or poorly controlled medical conditions that could be exacerbated by the treatment or would seriously complicate compliance with this study
No other active primary malignancy unless it is not currently clinically significant and does not require active intervention
No history of HIV infection
Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study treatment
No significant history of noncompliance to medical regimens or inability to grant reliable informed consent

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Previous treatment-related toxicities should be resolved
No other investigational agents within the past 28 days

No chemotherapy within the past 4 weeks

6 weeks for nitrosourea or mitomycin C
No major surgery within the past 4 weeks
No concurrent use of the following drugs is allowed: ketoconazole, dilantin, itraconazole, erythromycin, clarithromycin, dexamethasone, rifampin, tegretol, phenobarbital, Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort), cyclosporine, pimozide, warfarin, certain HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, traizolo-benzodiazepines, or dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers
No other concurrent anticancer agents, including chemotherapy and biologic agents
No other concurrent investigational drugs
Concurrent medications known to be metabolized by cytochrome p450 enzymes are allowed

No therapeutic anticoagulation with warfarin will be permitted in patients participating in this study

Therapeutic anticoagulation may be accomplished using low-molecular weight heparin
Mini-dose warfarin for prophylaxis of central venous catheter thrombosis allowed
No concurrent routine use of systemic corticosteroid therapy