Imatinib Mesylate, Daunorubicin, and Cytarabine in Treating Patients With Relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukemia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Bone marrow biopsy confirming acute myeloid leukemia (AML) * No M3 AML * Patient must have relapsed to standard chemotherapy * Patients who relapse within six months of response to treatment or those who never responded to an anthracycline/cytarabine combination will be excluded * At least 20% of peripheral blood or bone marrow blasts positive for c-kit * No evidence of leptomeningeal involvement PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG Performance Status 0-2 * Liver enzymes (AST and ALT) and total bilirubin ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal * Serum creatinine ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal * No New York Heart Association grade III or IV cardiac problems * Defined as congestive heart failure or myocardial infraction within the past 6 months * No known chronic liver disease (i.e., chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis) * No serious or poorly controlled medical conditions that could be exacerbated by the treatment or would seriously complicate compliance with this study * No other active primary malignancy unless it is not currently clinically significant and does not require active intervention * No history of HIV infection * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study treatment * No significant history of noncompliance to medical regimens or inability to grant reliable informed consent PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * Previous treatment-related toxicities should be resolved * No other investigational agents within the past 28 days * No chemotherapy within the past 4 weeks * 6 weeks for nitrosourea or mitomycin C * No major surgery within the past 4 weeks * No concurrent use of the following drugs is allowed: ketoconazole, dilantin, itraconazole, erythromycin, clarithromycin, dexamethasone, rifampin, tegretol, phenobarbital, Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort), cyclosporine, pimozide, warfarin, certain HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, traizolo-benzodiazepines, or dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers * No other concurrent anticancer agents, including chemotherapy and biologic agents * No other concurrent investigational drugs * Concurrent medications known to be metabolized by cytochrome p450 enzymes are allowed * No therapeutic anticoagulation with warfarin will be permitted in patients participating in this study * Therapeutic anticoagulation may be accomplished using low-molecular weight heparin * Mini-dose warfarin for prophylaxis of central venous catheter thrombosis allowed * No concurrent routine use of systemic corticosteroid therapy