SB-715992 in Treating Patients With Acute Leukemia, Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, or Advanced Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients must have acute myelogenous or acute lymphoblastic leukemia refractory to primary standard induction therapy; relapsed/refractory acute leukemia; chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis are eligible at diagnosis or after failing aggressive induction chemotherapy (providing they are refractory to imatinib); acute leukemia secondary to preexisting hematologic condition or prior chemotherapy are eligible at diagnosis or after failing aggressive induction chemotherapy, advanced myelodysplastic syndrome (RAEB or RAEB-2 providing they are neutropenic or transfusion dependent); patients with de-novo acute leukemia who are not eligible for aggressive standard induction chemotherapy due to advanced age or serious comorbid medical or psychiatric conditions, patients above age 60 with de-novo AML and unfavorable cytogenetics * At least 2 weeks must have elapsed between completion of most recent cytotoxic chemotherapy, or biologic therapy except for hydroxyurea or corticosteroids or Imatinib (24 hours); patients who have previously received an autologous stem cell transplant are allowed providing a minimum of 3 months has elapsed from transplant (T0) and patient has recovered from transplant associated toxicities; patients who have had prior allogeneic stem cell transplant are not eligible; a minimum of five days must have elapsed since administration of granulocyte or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and a minimum of 2 weeks if Neulasta; minimum of 2 weeks since administration of gemtuzumab, ozogamicin (Mylotarg), minimum of 4 weeks for prior investigational agents * ECOG performance status =\< 2 (Karnofsky \>= 50%) * Life expectancy of at least 4 weeks * Direct serum bilirubin =\< 1.5 mg/dl * AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) \< 3 X institutional upper limit of normal * Creatinine =\< 1.5 X institutional upper limit of normal * The effects of SB-715992 on the developing human fetus are unknown; for this reason and because mitotic inhibitors are known to be teratogenic, women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation; should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately * Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document Exclusion Criteria: * Patients may not have received any other investigational agents within 28 days of study entry * Patients may not receive any other anti-cancer therapy (cytotoxic, biologic, radiation, or hormonal other than for replacement) while on this study * Prohibited medications: SB-715992 is a moderate to significant in vitro inhibitor of CYP3A4; the following lists of medications/substances are moderate to significant inhibitors/inducers of CYP3A4 that, if administered concomitantly with SB-715992, may alter study drug exposure; the use of these medications/substances within 14 days (\>= 6 months for amiodarone) prior to the administration of the first dose of SB-715992 through discontinuation from the study is prohibited * Inhibitors of CYP3A4: * Antibiotics: clarithromycin, erythromycin, troleandomycin * Antifungals: itraconazole, ketoconazole, fluconazole (doses \> 200 mg/day), voriconazole * Antidepressants: nefazodone, fluvoxamine * Calcium channel blockers: verapamil, diltiazem * Miscellaneous: amiodarone\*, grapefruit juice, bitter orange; \*use of amiodarone within 6 months prior to the administration of the first dose of SB-715992 is prohibited * Inducers of CYP3A4: * Anticonvulsants: phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, oxcarbazepine * Antibiotics: rifampin, rifabutin, rifapentine * Miscellaneous: St. John's wort, modafinil * Patients with suspected or proven CNS leukemia (diagnostic lumbar puncture not required before enrollment) * History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to SB-715992 * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to ongoing or active or poorly controlled infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, poorly controlled pulmonary disease or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements * Patients with pre-existing neuropathy of grade 2 or higher are not eligible to participate * Pregnant women are excluded from this study because SB-715992 is a mitotic inhibitor with the potential for teratogenic or abortifacient effects; because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with SB-715992, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated with SB-715992 * Patients with immune deficiency are at increased risk of lethal infections when treated with marrow-suppressive therapy; therefore, HIV-positive patients are excluded from this study