DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia based on clinical features and molecular evidence for bcr/abl gene rearrangement

  • First or second chronic phase at the time of stem cell collection
• Ineligible for allogeneic transplantation

• Should receive interferon alfa (IFN-A) with or without low-dose cytarabine for at least 3-6 months before autotransplantation and meet one of the following conditions:

  • After 3 months of IFN-A, hematologic response is partial or less and poor clinical feature was present at diagnosis
  • After 6 months of IFN-A, hematologic response is partial or complete (but 100% Ph+) and poor clinical feature was present at diagnosis
  • After 9 or 12 months of IFN-A, no cytogenetic response occurred (100% Ph+), regardless of pretreatment clinical features
  • After at least 12 months of IFN-A (or on 2 separate tests, 3 months apart), only minor cytogenetic response (35-90% Ph+) occurred, then eligible for ex vivo expanded autologous T cells only (without high-dose chemotherapy or autografting) or high-dose therapy plus autographing at physicians' discretion
  • After at least 12 months of IFN-A (or on 2 tests, 3 months apart), major but not complete cytogenetic response (0-34% Ph+) occurred, then eligible for ex vivo expanded autologous T cells only (without high-dose chemotherapy or autografting)
  • After at least 18 months of IFN-A, complete cytogenetic response (0% Ph+) occurred but remain positive for BCR/ABL gene rearrangement then eligible for ex vivo expanded autologous T cells only (without high-dose chemotherapy or autografting)
• Unsatisfactory response to prior STI571 allowed (regardless of prior IFN-A)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• Not specified

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Not specified

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (unless due to Gilbert's disease)
• AST and ALT no greater than 2 times ULN (unless liver involvement with CML)

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

• LVEF at least 45% (lower allowed if no significant functional impairment)

Pulmonary:

• FEV_1, FVC, and DLCO at least 50% predicted

Other:

• No active infections requiring IV antibiotics
• HIV negative
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 1 month since prior interferon

Chemotherapy:

• At least 1 week since hydroxyurea before leukapheresis

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• Not specified

Surgery:

• Not specified