Amifostine With or Without Epoetin Alfa in Treating Patients With Myelodysplastic Syndrome

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Confirmed diagnosis of good or intermediate prognosis myelodysplasia of one of the following types: Refractory anemia Refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts Refractory anemia with excess blasts with no greater than 10% bone marrow blasts No complex abnormalities or involvement of chromosome 7 PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: WHO 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 3 months Hematopoietic: Hemoglobin no greater than 10 g/dL OR Transfusion requirement of at least 2 packs RBC per month AND/OR Platelet count no greater than 50,000/mm3 AND/OR Neutrophil count no greater than 1,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) SGPT/ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular: No severe cardiac dysfunction (CTC-NCIC grade III or IV) Pulmonary: No severe pulmonary dysfunction Neurologic: No history of CNS disturbances Other: No current or recent history of allergies No other nonmalignant systemic disease Not pregnant or nursing No active uncontrolled infections Must have cytogenetics done within the past 4 months PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 2 months since prior growth factors or biological response modifiers for myelodysplastic syndrome except for supportive care No other concurrent hematopoietic growth factors Chemotherapy: At least 2 months since other prior chemotherapy for myelodysplastic syndrome Endocrine therapy: No concurrent glucocorticoids No concurrent androgens Radiotherapy: Not specified Surgery: Not specified Other: No concurrent vitamin A or D derivatives