STI571 in Treating Patients With Recurrent Leukemia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Recurrent Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome-positive leukemia * Recurrent or refractory acute lymphoblastic or myeloblastic leukemia OR * Chronic myelogenous leukemia with resistance to interferon alfa with any of the following: * WBC at least 20,000/mm\^3 after at least 3 months of interferon therapy * At least 100% increase in WBC to at least 20,000/mm\^3 confirmed over 2 weeks while receiving interferon alfa * At least 66% Ph chromosome-positive cells after 1 year of interferon therapy * At least 30% increase in number of Ph chromosome-positive cells after an interferon-induced response while continuing interferon therapy PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * Under 22 Performance status: * Karnofsky 50-100% if over 10 years of age OR * Lansky 50-100% if 10 years of age and under Life expectancy: * At least 8 weeks Hematopoietic: * See Disease Characteristics Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal * SGPT less than 3 times normal * Albumin greater than 2 g/dL Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times normal OR * Creatinine clearance or radioisotope glomerular filtration rate at least 70 mL/min Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * If prior allogeneic stem cell transplantation, no uncontrolled graft-versus -host disease * No seizure disorder if on anticonvulsants * No uncontrolled infection * No CNS toxicity greater than grade 2 PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 1 week since prior biologic therapy and recovered * At least 3 months since prior stem cell transplantation (SCT) * At least 1 week since prior growth factors * At least 1 week since prior interferon alfa Chemotherapy: * Recovered from prior chemotherapy * At least 6 weeks since prior busulfan and nitrosoureas * At least 2 weeks since prior homoharringtonine * At least 1 week since low-dose cytarabine * At least 2 weeks since prior moderate-dose cytarabine * At least 4 weeks since prior high-dose cytarabine * At least 3 weeks since all other prior cytotoxic chemotherapies * No prior hydroxyurea Endocrine therapy: * Must be on a stable dose of steroids if received prior allogeneic SCT Radiotherapy: * Recovered from prior radiotherapy * At least 2 weeks since prior local palliative radiotherapy (small port) * At least 6 months since prior craniospinal radiotherapy * At least 6 months since prior radiotherapy to 50% or more of the pelvis * At least 6 weeks since other prior substantial bone marrow radiotherapy Surgery: * Not specified Other: * No other concurrent investigational agents * No concurrent anticonvulsants