RATIONALE: Interleukin-2 may stimulate a person's white blood cells to kill more cancer cells.

PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of interleukin-2 in treating children who have undergone bone marrow transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia.

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the maximum tolerated dose of interleukin-2 after autologous bone marrow transplantation in pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia. II. Determine toxic effects of this regimen in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a dose escalation study. Patients receive interleukin-2 (IL-2) subcutaneously on days 1-7, 9-14, and 16-22. On days 8 and 15, patients receive IL-2 IV over 2 hours. Treatment repeats every 28 days for up to 4 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Cohorts of 6-9 patients receive escalating doses of IL-2 until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 6 or 2 of 9 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. Patients are followed every 6 months for 4 years and then annually thereafter.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 6-27 patients will be accrued for this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) Must have received autologous bone marrow or stem cell transplantation for AML within the past 28 to 100 days Evidence of marrow engraftment Absolute neutrophil count at least 500/mm3 for at least 2 consecutive days Platelet count at least 20,000/mm3 without transfusion support for more than 3 days Documented M1 or M2 bone marrow within the past 7 days

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Under 22 at diagnosis Performance status: Karnofsky 50-100% Life expectancy: At least 8 weeks Hematopoietic: See Disease Characteristics Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL SGPT no greater than 2 times normal Renal: Creatinine normal OR Glomerular filtration rate at least 70 mL/min Cardiovascular: Shortening fraction at least 27% OR Ejection fraction greater than 50% No evidence of active cardiac disease by electrocardiogram Pulmonary: No evidence of active pulmonary disease by chest x-ray Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception Neurologic deficits due to CNS disease must be stable within the past 4 weeks No active viral, bacterial, or invasive fungal infection No fever No prior hypersensitivity to interleukin-2 No greater than grade 2 mucosal toxicity

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 3 days since prior growth factors or intravenous immunoglobulin No concurrent cytokines or growth factors No concurrent intravenous immunoglobulin Chemotherapy: No concurrent chemotherapy No concurrent methotrexate IV or intrathecally Endocrine therapy: At least 3 days since prior corticosteroids No concurrent corticosteroids (except as premedication for documented severe transfusion reactions) Radiotherapy: Not specified Surgery: Not specified Other: At least 3 days since prior pentoxifylline or amphotericin B No concurrent pentoxifylline No other concurrent anticancer therapy