Tipifarnib, Cytarabine, and Daunorubicin in Treating Older Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) * All subtypes, except acute promyelocytic leukemia, are allowed * At least 20% bone marrow or peripheral blood blasts OR biopsy-confirmed extramedullary disease * No cerebrospinal fluid involvement PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 56 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-2 OR * Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * See Disease Characteristics * WBC \< 100,000/mm\^3 (treatment with hydroxyurea allowed) Hepatic * Bilirubin ≤ 1.25 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST and ALT ≤ 2.0 times ULN Renal * Creatinine \< 1.7 mg/dL OR * Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min Cardiovascular * LVEF ≥ 50% * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia Immunologic * HIV negative * No history of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to tipifarnib or imidazole drugs (e.g., ketoconazole, clotrimazole, or miconazole) * No ongoing or active infection Other * Not pregnant * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Able to swallow oral medications * No other uncontrolled illness * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Not specified Chemotherapy * No prior chemotherapy for AML except hydroxyurea for cytoreduction * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy except hydroxyurea (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered * At least 24 hours since prior hydroxyurea Endocrine therapy * No concurrent dexamethasone Radiotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered * No prior radiotherapy \> 3,000 cGy to marrow-producing areas Surgery * Not specified Other * No other concurrent investigational agents * No other concurrent antileukemic agents * No concurrent treatment with any of the following: * Ketoconazole * Itraconazole * Voriconazole * Clarithromycin * Erythromycin * Phenytoin * Carbamazepine * Barbiturates * Cyclosporine * Pimozide * Warfarin * Grapefruit juice * Simvastatin * Lovastatin * Atorvastatin * No concurrent magnesium- or aluminum-containing antacids within 2 hours before or after tipifarnib administration