Phenylbutyrate, Dexamethasone, and Sargramostim in Treating Patients With Refractory or Relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukemia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Diagnosis of t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) Failed standard induction chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation (SCT) OR Relapsed after standard induction chemotherapy or SCT OR Refused or not a candidate for SCT or matched allogeneic sibling bone marrow transplantation or donor lymphocyte infusion OR Refused of not a candidate for autologous SCT or bone marrow transplantation No CNS leukemia PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 7 days Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: AST or ALT no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Bilirubin no greater than 3 times ULN No hepatic disease that would preclude study Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2 mg/dL Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min No renal disease that would preclude study Cardiovascular: No cardiac disease that would preclude study No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease No myocardial infarction within past 8 weeks Other: No active infection except cystitis Not pregnant or nursing No altered mental status or seizure disorder No other serious disease that would preclude study PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: See Disease Characteristics Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: Not specified Surgery: Not specified Other: At least 3 weeks since prior investigational antineoplastic drugs