DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Pathologically confirmed diagnosis of 1 of the following:

  • Acute myeloid leukemia
  • Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
  • Chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast phase

• Meets 1 of the following disease-specific criteria:

  • Relapsed disease after ≤ 2 prior chemotherapy regimens (consolidation therapy excluded)
  • Primary-induction failure
  • Previously untreated and deemed unfit for or refusing cytotoxic chemotherapy
• No hyperleukocytosis (leukemic blasts ≥ 30,000/mm³)
• No acute promyelocytic leukemia (M3)
• No active CNS leukemia

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• ECOG performance status 0-2
• SGOT and SGPT ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Bilirubin normal
• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN
• LVEF ≥ 40%
• No uncontrolled hypertension, congestive heart failure, angina pectoris, or ventricular dysrhythmias
• No uncontrolled disseminated intravascular coagulation
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test

• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

  • Hormonal contraception must have been initiated ≥ 1 month prior to study entry
• No active graft-vs-host disease
• No active uncontrolled infection
• No intrinsic impaired organ function
• No known allergy to imidazole drugs
• No neuropathy ≥ grade 1
• No known hypersensitivity to bortezomib, tipifarnib, boron, or mannitol
• No physical or psychiatric conditions that would preclude study participation, including poorly controlled psychosis

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 48 hours since prior hydroxyurea
• No prior tipifarnib, bortezomib, or investigational proteasomal inhibitors
• No concurrent radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy
• No concurrent enzyme-inducing antiepileptic medications (e.g., phenytoin, phenobarbital, or carbamazepine)