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RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as fludarabine, work in different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. 3-AP may help fludarabine kill more cancer cells by making them more sensitive to the drug. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of fludarabine when given together with 3-AP in treating patients with relapsed or refractory acute leukemia, chronic leukemia, or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome. OBJECTIVES: * Determine the feasibility and tolerability of 3-AP (Triapine\^® ) followed by fludarabine in patients with relapsed or refractory acute or chronic leukemia or high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes. * Determine the toxic effects of this regimen in these patients. * Determine the maximum tolerated dose of this regimen in these patients. OUTLINE: This is a multicenter, dose-escalation study of fludarabine. Patients are stratified according to disease (acute leukemias and myelodysplastic syndromes \[MDS\] vs chronic lymphocytic leukemia and prolymphocytic leukemia). Patients are assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups. * Group 1 (chronic lymphocytic leukemia or prolymphocytic leukemia): Patients receive 3-AP (Triapine\^®) IV over 4 hours and fludarabine IV over 30 minutes on days 1-5. Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of fludarabine until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. Once the MTD is determined, 10 additional patients are treated at that dose level. * Group 2 (acute leukemias or MDS): Patients receive 3-AP IV continuously over 24 hours on day 1. Beginning within 4 hours after completion of 3-AP, patients receive fludarabine IV over 30 minutes on days 2-6. In both groups, treatment repeats every 3 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 3-34 patients will be accrued for this study.
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed diagnosis of 1 of the following: * High-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), including refractory anemia with excess blasts and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia * International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) score at least 1.5 based on the following: * More than 10% marrow blasts * Cytopenias in at least 2 lineages * Adverse cytogenetics * Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) * All subtypes, including MDS/AML and treatment-related (secondary) AML * Acute lymphoblastic leukemia * Acute progranulocytic leukemia * Ineligible for arsenic therapy * Chronic myelogenous leukemia * Accelerated phase or blastic crisis * Chronic lymphocytic leukemia * Prolymphocytic leukemia * Received or ineligible for established curative regimens, including stem cell transplantation * Acute and chronic leukemias must be relapsed and/or refractory with progressive disease since last therapy PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * No history of hemolytic anemia grade 2 or greater * No known glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency * G6PD screening required for high-risk groups (i.e., patients of African, Asian, or Mediterranean origin/ancestry) Hepatic * SGOT and SGPT no greater than 2.5 times normal * Bilirubin no greater than 2 mg/dL * No chronic hepatitis Renal * Creatinine normal OR * Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular * No active heart disease * No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months * No severe coronary artery disease * No arrhythmias (other than atrial flutter or fibrillation) requiring medication * No uncontrolled congestive heart failure Pulmonary * No dyspnea at rest or with minimal exertion * No severe pulmonary disease requiring supplemental oxygen Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No neuropathy grade 2 or greater * No active uncontrolled infection * Infections under active treatment and controlled by antibiotics are allowed * No other life-threatening illness * No psychiatric illness that would preclude study compliance PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 1 week since prior hematopoietic growth factor (e.g., epoetin alfa, filgrastim \[G-CSF\], sargramostim \[GM-CSF\], interleukin-3, and interleukin-11) * No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy * Recovered from prior chemotherapy (no greater than grade 1 chronic toxic effects) * At least 72 hours since prior hydroxyurea * At least 3 weeks since prior myelosuppressive cytotoxic agents (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosoureas) * No more than 12 prior courses of fludarabine * No more than 3 prior cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens * No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery * Not specified Other * At least 1 week since prior non-myelosuppressive treatment * No more than 4 prior induction regimens * No other concurrent therapy