Decitabine and FR901228 in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Leukemia, Myelodysplastic Syndromes, or Myeloproliferative Disorders

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed diagnosis of 1 of the following hematologic malignancies: * Acute myeloid leukemia * Previously untreated patients \> 60 years of age who are not eligible for front-line therapy are eligible for this study * Acute lymphoblastic leukemia * Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) * Documented hematologic resistance to imatinib mesylate OR no cytogenetic response after 12 months of prior treatment with imatinib mesylate * Philadelphia chromosome-negative CML allowed provided disease is resistant to standard therapy (e.g., hydroxyurea) OR disease progressed (blasts \> 5% and platelet count \< 100,000/mm\^3) during standard therapy * Myelodysplastic syndromes * International Prognostic Scoring System risk category ≥ intermediate-1 * Patients who are not eligible for front-line therapy are eligible for this study * Myeloproliferative disease * Chronic lymphocytic leukemia * Failed or progressed during ≥ 1 prior fludarabine-based therapy AND alemtuzmab * Acute promyelocytic leukemia * Progressed after prior treatment with standard chemotherapy, tretinoin, and arsenic trioxide * Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia * Resistant to standard therapy (e.g., hydroxyurea) OR disease progressed (blasts \> 5% and platelet count \< 100,000/mm\^3) during standard therapy * Relapsed or refractory disease * No known brain or meningeal disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * Over 18 Performance status * ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy * More than 8 weeks Hepatic * Bilirubin \< 2 mg/dL * AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal Renal * Creatinine \< 2 mg/dL Cardiovascular * QTc \< 500 msec * LVEF \> 40% by MUGA * No New York Heart Association class III or IV congestive heart failure * No myocardial infarction within the past year * No uncontrolled dysrhythmias * No uncontrolled angina * No left ventricular hypertrophy by EKG * No history of serious ventricular arrhythmia (e.g., ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation ≥ 3 beats in a row) * No other significant cardiac disease Immunologic * No history of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to study drugs * No ongoing or active infection * No HIV positivity Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * No other uncontrolled illness PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Chemotherapy * Recovered from prior chemotherapy * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) unless there is evidence of rapidly progressive disease Radiotherapy * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Other * No concurrent agents that cause QTc prolongation * No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies for the malignancy * No concurrent hydrochlorothiazide * Concurrent potassium-conserving combinations (e.g., Maxide® or Dyazide®) or other antihypertensive agents allowed