Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically proven chronic myelogenous leukemia

Must have (9;22) translocation or bcr/abl transcript, and b3a2 breakpoint
No accelerated or blastic phase
Must be in hematologic remission with peripheral WBC less than 20,000/mm^3

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

Over 16

Performance status:

Karnofsky 70-100%

Life expectancy:

Not specified

Hematopoietic:

See Disease Characteristics
Absolute granulocyte count greater than 1,200/mm^3
Platelet count greater than 70,000/mm^3
Hemoglobin greater than 9.0 g/dL
No active bleeding

Hepatic:

Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL
Lactate dehydrogenase less than 2 times normal

Renal:

Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease

Other:

No uncontrolled active infection requiring antibiotics
No other serious illness
No immunodeficiency other than from prior bone marrow transplantation
Not pregnant or nursing

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

At least 6 months since prior allogeneic or autologous bone marrow transplantation
Prior vaccination with pentavalent peptide at less than study dose level allowed
At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy other than interferon, donor lymphocyte infusion, or pentavalent vaccine
Concurrent interferon allowed

Chemotherapy:

At least 2 weeks since prior low-dose subcutaneous cytarabine
At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy other than hydroxyurea
No concurrent chemotherapy except hydroxyurea

Endocrine therapy:

No concurrent corticosteroids

Radiotherapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

No concurrent surgery

Other:

Concurrent imatinib mesylate allowed
No other concurrent systemic therapy