Idarubicin and High-Dose Cytarabine in Treating Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Inclusion criteria: * Newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) * Morphologic proof (bone marrow aspirate smears or touch prep of marrow biopsy) of disease * FAB M0, M1, M2, M4, M5a, M5b, M6a, M6b, and M7 disease * Previously untreated with radiotherapy or chemotherapy * Patients with treatment-related leukemia are eligible even if they have received prior chemotherapy and radiotherapy * Patients with prior myelodysplastic syndrome are eligible * Extramedullary leukemia allowed * AML with lymphoid markers allowed Exclusion criteria: * Blastic transformation of chronic myelogenous leukemia * Biphenotypic leukemia * FAB M3 disease (acute promyelocytic leukemia) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Life expectancy ≥ 6 weeks * Total bilirubin \< 1.5 g/dL * AST and ALT \< 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Creatinine \< 1.5 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance \> 70 mL/min * Ejection fraction ≥ 50% by MUGA unless decreased ejection fraction is secondary to leukemia infiltration * HIV antibody-negative PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Inclusion criteria: * See Disease Characteristics * Prior hydroxyurea or corticosteroids allowed * At least 48 hours since prior and no concurrent itraconazole or fluconazole Exclusion criteria: * More than 300 mg/m² of prior daunorubicin or equivalent dose of anthracycline