DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), meeting 1 of the following criteria:

  • Relapsed AML in the following categories:

    • Good-risk cytogenetics [inv(16), t (8;21)] in second relapse or in first relapse following a remission of < 12 months
    • Acute promyelocytic leukemia (M3) in second relapse or greater AND must have relapsed following both tretinoin-anthracycline-based therapy and arsenic trioxide-based therapy
    • All other relapsed patients are eligible

  • Untreated AML in the following categories:

    • At least 65 years of age
    • Myelodysplastic syndromes-AML (AML with trilineage dysplasia)
    • AML with del5Q or monosomy 5, monosomy 7, or complex cytogenetics (≥ 3 cytogenetic abnormalities)
• Refused or ineligible for potentially curative options such as allogeneic stem cell transplantation
• No clinical evidence of CNS or pulmonary leukostasis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, or CNS leukemia

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• ECOG performance status (PS) 0-2 or Karnofsky PS ≥ 60%
• Life expectancy ≥ 3 months
• Bilirubin normal unless attributed to hemolysis or Gilbert's disease in the opinion of the investigator
• AST/ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Creatinine normal OR creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min
• No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to vorinostat

• No uncontrolled intercurrent illness, including any of the following:

  • Ongoing or active infection
  • Symptomatic congestive heart failure
  • Unstable angina pectoris
  • Cardiac arrhythmia
  • Psychiatric illness or social situation that would limit compliance with study requirements
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No known HIV positivity

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• More than 2 weeks since prior valproic acid

• More than 3 weeks since other prior treatment for AML, including hematopoietic growth factors

  • Hydroxyurea for WBC > 30,000/mm^3 allowed
• Recovered from prior therapy
• No concurrent filgrastim (G-CSF), sargramostim (GM-CSF), epoetin alfa, or darbepoetin alfa
• No other concurrent investigational agents
• No other concurrent anticancer agents or therapies for this cancer