Flavopiridol and Imatinib Mesylate in Treating Patients With Hematologic Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of 1 of the following: * Chronic or accelerated phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) with 1 of the following: * Hematologic progression during prior imatinib mesylate treatment * Less than a complete hematologic response after at least 3 months of prior imatinib mesylate treatment * Less than a major cytogenetic response after at least 6 months of imatinib mesylate treatment (cytogenetic response documented by karyotype or fluorescence in situ hybridization \[FISH\]) * Blastic phase CML\* * Acute lymphoblastic leukemia\* * Acute myeloid leukemia\* NOTE: \*Patients may be enrolled at presentation, in remission, or upon relapse * Bcr/Abl+ in bone marrow confirmed by karyotype or FISH * No known CNS malignancy PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * See Disease Characteristics Hepatic * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if hepatic involvement suspected \[stratum 2 only\]) Renal * Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN Cardiovascular * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study participation * No prior allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to study agents * No other concurrent uncontrolled medical illness * No ongoing or active infection * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * No concurrent filgrastim (G-CSF), sargramostim (GM-CSF), or interleukin-2 during the first course of study therapy unless clinically indicated for management of febrile neutropenia or thrombocytopenia * Concurrent epoetin alfa allowed if started before study entry and it remains clinically appropriate Chemotherapy * Not specified Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * Not specified Surgery * Not specified Other * See Disease Characteristics * Recovered from all prior therapy * No other concurrent investigational or anticancer agents * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients