Docetaxel in Treating Children With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic or Acute Myeloid Leukemia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed acute lymphoblastic or acute myeloid leukemia * M3 bone marrow relapse required * Refractory to conventional chemotherapy * No extramedullary disease at relapse PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 21 and under at time of initial diagnosis Performance status: * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: * At least 2 months Hematopoietic: * Not specified Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL * AST and ALT no greater than 1.5 times normal * Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times normal 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 PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * At least 7 days since prior biologic therapy and recovered * At least 6 months since prior allogeneic stem cell transplantation * No concurrent immunomodulating agents during first 2 courses of therapy * No concurrent routine filgrastim (G-CSF) Chemotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 2 weeks since prior chemotherapy (4 weeks for nitrosoureas) and recovered * No prior paclitaxel or docetaxel * No other concurrent chemotherapy during first 2 courses of therapy Endocrine therapy: * No concurrent corticosteroid therapy except dexamethasone, low-dose hydrocortisone to treat allergic reactions, or treatment for adrenal crisis Radiotherapy: * Recovered from prior radiotherapy * At least 2 weeks since prior palliative local radiotherapy * At least 6 months since prior craniospinal radiotherapy or radiotherapy to at least 50% of the pelvis * At least 6 weeks since prior substantial bone marrow radiotherapy * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: * Not specified