High Dose Cytarabine And Mitoxantrone Therapy For Relapsed And Refractory Acute Myeloid And Lymphocytic Leukemia: Effects Of GM-CSF Versus G-CSF On Dendritic Cells And Leukemia Associated Antigen-Specific T-Lymphocytes

Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia or acute lymphoblastic leukemia by morphology,
cytochemical staining, and flow cytometry

- In first or subsequent relapse or refractory disease after at least 1 prior treatment
regimen

- Antecedent hematologic disorders allowed except Philadelphia chromosome-positive
chronic myelogenous leukemia

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

- 15 and over

Performance status

- 0-3

Life expectancy

- At least 4 weeks

Hematopoietic

- Not specified

Hepatic

- Bilirubin no greater than 2 times normal*

- SGOT no greater than 2 times normal* NOTE: *Unless directly attributable to leukemia

Renal

- Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times normal* NOTE: *Unless directly attributable to
leukemia

Cardiovascular

- Ejection fraction at least 45%* NOTE: *Unless directly attributable to leukemia

Other

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No other concurrent medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude study entry

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

- Prior autologous or allogeneic bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell
transplantation allowed

- Prior cytokines allowed

Chemotherapy

- Prior chemotherapy allowed

Endocrine therapy

- No concurrent corticosteroids except for treatment of severe vomiting that is
refractory to standard agents

Radiotherapy

- Prior radiotherapy allowed

Surgery

- Not specified