Fludarabine With or Without Cyclophosphamide in Treating Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) of any stage as defined by the following:

Peripheral blood absolute lymphocyte count greater than 5,000/mm^3 within 14 days prior to study
Lymphocytes must be small to moderate size with no more than 55% prolymphocytes, atypical lymphocytes, or lymphoblasts morphologically
Phenotypically characterized as B-CLL

Must have one of the following characteristics indicating need for chemotherapy:

Progressive marrow failure (hemoglobin less than 10 g/dL and/or platelet count less than 100,000/mm^3)
Progressive lymphocytosis with an increase of more than 50% over a 2 month period or anticipated doubling time of less than 6 months
Massive (i.e., greater than 6 cm below left costal margin) or progressive splenomegaly
Massive nodes or clusters (i.e., greater than 10 cm in longest diameter) or progressive adenopathy
At least 10% weight loss within 6 months of study
Extreme fatigue
Fevers greater than 100.5 degrees F for 2 weeks without evidence of infection
Night sweats without evidence of infection
No autoimmune anemia or autoimmune thrombocytopenia

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Performance status:

ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

Not specified

Hematopoietic:

See Disease Characteristics

Hepatic:

Bilirubin no greater than 2 mg/dL unless secondary to tumor

Renal:

Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
Creatinine clearance at least 40 mL/min if creatinine is greater than 1.5 mg/dL

Other:

No other prior or concurrent malignancy within the past 2 years except basal cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
No active infection requiring oral or intravenous antibiotics
Not pregnant or nursing
Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

Not specified

Chemotherapy:

No prior cytotoxic chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

No prior steroid treatment for CLL

Radiotherapy:

Not specified

Surgery:

Not specified