RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cytarabine and VNP40101M, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving more than one drug (combination chemotherapy) may kill more cancer cells.

PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying cytarabine and VNP40101M to see how well they work compared to cytarabine alone in treating patients with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia.

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• Compare the complete response (CR) and CR (with platelet count < 100,000/mm^3 but ≥ 20,000/mm^3 [transfusion independent for ≥ 7 consecutive days]) (CRp) rates in patients with acute myeloid leukemia in first relapse treated with cytarabine with vs without VNP40101M.

Secondary

• Compare time to progression in patients treated with these regimens.
• Compare duration of response in patients treated with these regimens.
• Compare the survival of patients treated with these regimens.
• Compare the toxicity of these regimens in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to age (< 60 years vs ≥ 60 years) and duration of first complete response (CR) or CR (with platelet count < 100,000/mm³ but ≥ 20,000/mm³ [transfusion independent for ≥ 7 consecutive days]) (CRp) (< 12 months vs ≥ 12 months).

• Induction therapy: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

  • Arm I: Patients receive cytarabine IV continuously on days 1-3 and VNP40101M IV over 30-60 minutes on day 2 (at least 12 hours after the start of cytarabine).
  • Arm II: Patients receive cytarabine as in arm I and placebo IV over 30-60 minutes on day 2 (at least 12 hours after the start of cytarabine).

In both arms, patients demonstrating at least 20% reduction of blasts in bone marrow (based on total cellularity and percent blasts) after course 1 may receive 1 additional course of induction therapy between days 35-60 in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients achieving CR or CRp after 1 or 2 courses of induction therapy proceed to consolidation therapy.

• Consolidation therapy: Beginning 6 weeks after initial documentation of CR or CRp, patients receive 1 course of consolidation therapy, as per induction therapy, according to their randomized treatment arm. These patients may then proceed to other consolidation, maintenance, and/or intensification therapy (including stem cell transplantation) off study at the discretion of the physician.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed monthly for 6 months, every 2 months for 6 months, and then every 3 months for 2 years.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 420 patients (280 in arm I and 140 in arm II) will be accrued for this study within 24-30 months.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

  • Any WHO classification, excluding acute promyelocytic leukemia
  • At least 10% blasts by bone marrow aspirate and/or biopsy

• In first relapse after achieving a first complete response (CR) OR CR (with platelet count < 100,000/mm³ but ≥ 20,000/mm³ [transfusion independent for ≥ 7 consecutive days]) (CRp) that lasted ≥ 3 months but ≤ 24 months after completion of the initial induction regimen

  • Relapse confirmed by recurrence of blasts in peripheral blood, bone marrow histopathology, and/or histologically confirmed CNS or extramedullary disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• See Disease Characteristics

Hepatic

• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST ≤ 3 times ULN
• Chronic hepatitis allowed

Renal

• Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

• No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months
• No uncontrolled arrhythmias
• No uncontrolled congestive heart failure

Pulmonary

• No severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• No requirement for supplemental oxygen at rest

Immunologic

• No uncontrolled active infection

  • Infections that are controlled and under active treatment with antibiotics allowed

• No evidence of invasive fungal infection by blood or tissue cultures

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study treatment
• No clinical evidence of another active malignancy by tumor marker, pathology, or radiologic studies
• No other severe medical condition that would preclude study treatment

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• At least 12 hours since prior hydroxyurea

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• Not specified

Surgery

• Not specified

Other

• No prior treatment while in first relapse except hydroxyurea
• No other concurrent standard or investigational treatment for AML
• No concurrent disulfiram (Antabuse®)