Bortezomib in Treating Patients With Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Diagnosis of Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in chronic or accelerated phase, defined as having any of the following:

Peripheral blood (PB) or bone marrow (BM) blasts at least 10% but less than 30%
PB or BM blasts and promyelocytes at least 20%
PB or BM basophils at least 20%
Progressive splenomegaly (at least 10 cm confirmed twice at least 4 weeks apart or 50% increase in splenomegaly over 4 weeks)
Clonal evolution defined as the presence of additional cytogenetic abnormalities other than the Ph chromosome
Thrombocytopenia (platelet count less than 100,000/mm^3) unrelated to therapy
Hemoglobin less than 7 g/dL unrelated to therapy or bleeding
Failed prior treatment with imatinib mesylate or intolerant, unable, or unwilling to receive it
Ineligible for higher-priority or higher-efficacy regimens or protocols
No blastic phase CML

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Performance status:

Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0-2

Life expectancy:

At least 18 weeks

Hematopoietic:

See Disease Characteristics

Hepatic:

Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

Renal:

Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min

Other:

No other concurrent illness that would preclude study entry
Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

Not specified

Chemotherapy:

No more than 2 prior cytotoxic regimens in addition to imatinib mesylate and/or hydroxyurea
At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered
Concurrent hydroxyurea and/or anagrelide allowed during first 2 courses

Endocrine therapy:

Not specified

Radiotherapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

Not specified

Other:

See Disease Characteristics
See Chemotherapy
At least 24 hours since prior imatinib mesylate
No other concurrent investigational agents