MS-275 in Treating Patients With Hematologic Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * One of the following histologically confirmed diagnoses: * Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) * Newly diagnosed de novo AML in patients over 60 years old with the following poor-risk features: * Antecedent hematologic disorder * Complex karyotype or other adverse cytogenetics * Stem cell immunophenotype * AML arising from myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) * Secondary AML * Relapsed or refractory AML, including primary induction failure * MDS * Poor-risk, defined as the following: * International Performance Score at least 1.5 * More than 10% marrow blasts * Cytopenias in at least 2 lineages * Refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB) * RAEB in transformation * Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia * Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) * Newly diagnosed de novo ALL in patients over 60 years old with the following poor-risk features: * Complex karyotype or other adverse cytogenetics * Mixed lineage immunophenotype * Relapsed or refractory ALL, including primary induction failure * Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) * CML in accelerated phase or blast crisis * Interferon-refractory CML in chronic phase * Multiple myeloma (MM) * Relapsed or refractory, including prior autologous stem cell transplantation * Acute promyelocytic leukemia * Prior treatment with tretinoin * Ineligible for arsenic trioxide * No evidence of active coagulopathy * Low-risk for developing clinically significant coagulopathy during study * Low tumor burden by marrow aspiration at time of relapse * No prior coagulation-related sequelae (deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or CNS thrombosis or bleed) * Failure after primary induction therapy or relapse after complete remission allowed if patient received no more than 3 courses of prior induction/reinduction therapy * Not eligible for curative stem cell transplantation * No hyperleukocytosis with at least 50,000/mm\^3 leukemic blasts * No active CNS leukemia * No plasma cell leukemia * No amyloidosis resulting in major organ dysfunction PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * See Disease Characteristics * No disseminated intravascular coagulation * No hyperviscosity Hepatic: * AST/ALT no greater than 2 times normal * Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times normal * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times normal * No uncorrected hypercalcemia Cardiovascular: * See Disease Characteristics * LVEF at least 45% by MUGA or echocardiogram * No intrinsic impaired cardiac function, including any of the following: * Myocardial infarction within the past 3 months * Prior severe coronary artery disease * Cardiomyopathy * Congestive heart failure Other: * No active uncontrolled infection * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 1 week since prior growth factors (epoetin alfa, filgrastim \[G-CSF\], sargramostim \[GM-CSF\], interleukin \[IL\]-3, or IL-11) * At least 4 weeks since prior autologous stem cell transplantation * No prior allogeneic stem cell transplantation * No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered * At least 24 hours since prior hydroxyurea or mercaptopurine for prevention of leukostasis * No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * Not specified Radiotherapy: * At least 2 weeks since prior emergency radiotherapy to large soft tissue or lytic bony lesions for MM * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: * Not specified Other: * At least 24 hours since other prior noncytotoxic agents for prevention of leukostasis * No other concurrent antitumor therapy