DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: CD33 positive acute myeloid leukemia in first relapse At least 3 months of complete remission No history of a secondary leukemia evolving from a known prior myelodysplastic syndrome or resulting from exposure to chemotherapy or toxins No active CNS leukemia

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 60 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC less than 30,000/mm3 at time of CMA-676 administration Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine no greater than 3.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No uncontrolled cardiac disease Pulmonary: No uncontrolled pulmonary disease Other: No other active malignancy No uncontrolled, life-threatening infections Able to obtain bone marrow aspirate HIV negative

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cells transplantation No prior anti-CD33 antibody therapy Chemotherapy: Prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for AML allowed No prior chemotherapy for AML in first relapse except hydroxyurea At least 24 hours since prior hydroxyurea Recovered from prior antineoplastic therapy (except alopecia) No concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: No concurrent immunosuppressive therapy Radiotherapy: Not specified Surgery: Not specified Other: At least 4 weeks since prior investigational agents No other concurrent antileukemic therapy