Combination Chemotherapy Followed by Peripheral Stem Cell Transplantation in Treating Children With Relapsed Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia Pathologic evidence of relapse in marrow, CNS, or testes In second or later complete remission Ineligible for allogeneic transplantation: No suitable allogeneic donor (sibling or family donor or unrelated donor with no more than 1 HLA-A or -B antigen mismatch and HLA-DR identical) OR Ineligible for preparative regimen including total-body irradiation Peripheral blood stem cell collection feasible: Patient size generally at least 8 kg Able to place central venous catheter Patient cooperative PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 1 to 19 Performance status: Not moribund Life expectancy: No severe limits from disease other than leukemia Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 3 times normal for age AST and/or GGT no greater than 3 times normal for age No evidence of hepatic synthetic dysfunction Renal: GFR at least 50% of normal based on Glofil study or 12-hour creatinine clearance Cardiovascular: Cardiac contractility normal on echocardiogram Pulmonary: FVC and FEV_1 with or without DLCO at least 50% predicted Other: No significant active infection HIV negative PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy See Disease Characteristics Chemotherapy See Disease Characteristics Endocrine therapy Not specified Radiotherapy See Disease Characteristics Surgery Not specified