Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Leukemia or Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: One of the following must be present: Histologically confirmed acute myeloid leukemia or acute lymphoblastic leukemia More than 5% blasts in the bone marrow or peripheral blood unrelated to recovery of normal hematopoiesis from prior chemotherapy Failed at least 1 attempt at induction chemotherapy Diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or Hodgkin's lymphoma Refractory or relapsed after at least 1 regimen of standard chemotherapy Diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia in accelerated phase or blast crisis Received at least 1 myelotoxic chemotherapy regimen Active CNS involvement allowed PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 55 and under Performance status ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy At least 5 weeks Hematopoietic Lymphoma patients: WBC at least 2,000/mm^3* Platelet count at least 20,000/mm^3* NOTE: *Unless due to bone marrow involvement or disease process Hepatic Bilirubin no greater than 3 times normal* AST/ALT no greater than 3 times normal* Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times normal* No severe liver failure NOTE: *Unless related to leukemia Renal Creatinine clearance greater than 50 mL/min No severe renal failure Cardiovascular LVEF at least 45% by MUGA Pulmonary DLCO at least 60% of predicted Other HIV negative Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No psychiatric illness that would preclude informed consent No medical illness or other condition that would preclude study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy Not specified Chemotherapy See Disease Characteristics At least 24 hours since prior hydroxyurea At least 1 week since other prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy Not specified Radiotherapy Not specified Surgery Not specified Other Recovered from prior therapy