Arsenic Trioxide and Etanercept in Treating Patients With Myelodysplastic Syndromes

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) meeting 1 of the following criteria: Intermediate-2 or high-risk disease Intermediate-1 or low-risk disease that was refractory to anti-thymocyte globulin and etanercept on protocol FHCRC-1872 Not eligible for stem cell transplantation for any of the following reasons: Suitable bone marrow donor is not available Ineligible for a transplantation protocol Not willing to undergo transplantation PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy Not specified Hematopoietic Absolute neutrophil count > 500/mm^3 Hepatic Not specified Renal Not specified Cardiovascular No evidence of cardiac arrhythmia No evidence of congestive heart failure QTc interval ≤ 460 msec Pulmonary No pneumonia Other Potassium > 4.0 mEq/L (supplemental electrolytes allowed) Magnesium > 1.8 mg/dL (supplemental electrolytes allowed) No history of anaphylactic reaction to arsenic trioxide No active severe infection (e.g., septicemia) within the past 2 weeks No other severe disease that would preclude study compliance Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy See Disease Characteristics No prior hematopoietic stem cell transplantation More than 4 weeks since prior hematopoietic growth factors for MDS More than 4 weeks since prior immunomodulatory therapy for MDS No concurrent hematopoietic growth factors for MDS No other concurrent immunomodulatory therapy for MDS Chemotherapy Not specified Endocrine therapy Not specified Radiotherapy Not specified Surgery Not specified Other More than 4 weeks since prior cytotoxic therapy for MDS More than 4 weeks since prior experimental therapy for MDS No other concurrent cytotoxic therapy for MDS No other concurrent experimental therapy for MDS