High-Dose Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy Followed by Peripheral Stem Cell Transplantation in Treating Patients With Acute Leukemia in Remission

OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the efficacy of myeloablative total-body irradiation and etoposide followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation in prolonging the disease-free survival of patients with acute leukemia. II. Investigate the ability of growth factor-primed PBSC to provide hematopoietic reconstitution following myeloablative therapy.

OUTLINE: Patients are treated on Regimen A, then Regimen B. Regimen A: Stem Cell Mobilization. Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (Amgen), G-CSF, NSC-614629. Regimen B: Radiotherapy and Myeloablative Chemotherapy with Hematopoietic Rescue. Total-Body Irradiation, TBI (high-energy electrons used for lung boost); and Etoposide, VP-16, NSC-141540; with Peripheral Blood Stem Cells, PBSC; G-CSF.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Up to 45 patients will be studied over approximately 3 years.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Previously diagnosed acute leukemia in one of the following categories: Acute myelogenous leukemia (any subtype) in first or subsequent remission Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in first or greater remission Ph- ALL in second or subsequent remission Cellular marrow with no morphologic evidence of residual leukemia within approximately 2 weeks of cryopreservation Negative CSF cytology required of ALL patients Allogeneic marrow transplant considered for patients under age 55 with a healthy HLA-identical family member available

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 16 to 65 Performance status: Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC greater than 3,500/mm3 Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dl Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dl OR Creatinine clearance at least 60 ml/min Cardiovascular: LVEF at least 50% by MUGA or normal on echocardiogram Pulmonary: DLCO at least 50% of predicted Other: HIV seronegative No uncontrolled infection Negative pregnancy test required of fertile women

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: See Disease Characteristics