Monoclonal Antibody Therapy and Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia in Remission

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Pathologically confirmed acute promyelocytic leukemia in one of the following categories: First complete remission following induction retinoids First complete remission following induction chemotherapy and not eligible for additional consolidation chemotherapy Second or subsequent remission following induction retinoids or chemotherapy Clinically complete remission following consolidation chemotherapy and: Detectable minimal residual disease by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay Not eligible for bone marrow transplant Molecular remission (i.e., negative RT-PCR assay) with subsequent evidence of early molecular relapse (i.e., normal peripheral blood counts, normal bone marrow morphology, and positive RT-PCR assay) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 12 and over Performance status: Not specified Life expectancy: Greater than 4 weeks Hematopoietic: See Disease Characteristics Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL AST no greater than 4 times normal Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 4 times normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular: (Patients receiving idarubicin and cytarabine only) No history of cardiac disease OR Left ventricular ejection fraction greater than 50% by MUGA or echocardiogram Other: No uncontrolled serious infection HIV negative No active second malignancy except basal cell carcinoma Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile women must use effective contraception PRIO…