Troxacitabine in Treating Patients With Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Diagnosis of Philadelphia chromosome-positive blastic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) with blasts of non-lymphoid origin Blastic phase defined as: At least 30% blasts in the blood or bone marrow OR Presence of extramedullary infiltration outside the liver or spleen No leukemic CNS involvement

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 16 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL AST or ALT less than 3 times upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR Creatinine less than 1.8 mg/dL if creatinine clearance at least 45 mL/min Other: No known hypersensitivity to troxacitabine or its analogues No active uncontrolled serious infection No other severe medical condition that would preclude study No neurologic or psychiatric disorders that would preclude informed consent No uncontrolled underlying medical condition or underlying condition that could be aggrevated by treatment Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: At least 24 hours since prior hydroxyurea Prior STI571 for blastic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia allowed No other prior chemotherapy for blastic phase disease Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: Not specified Surgery: Not specified Other: At least 14 days since prior investigational agents and recovered No other concurrent investigational agents