SWOG-9400 Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Bone Marrow Transplantation in Treating Patients With Previously Untreated Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed acute lymphocytic leukemia FAB class L1-L2 Mixed immunophenotypic markers with no cytochemical myeloid markers allowed No non-Hodgkin's lymphoma No chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis Concurrent registration on the cytogenetics protocol SWOG-9007 required PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 15 to 65 Performance status: SWOG 0-3 Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2 times normal (unless elevation due to leukemia) AST no greater than 3 times normal (unless elevation due to leukemia) No chronic liver disease Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2 times normal Cardiovascular: Left ventricular ejection fraction at least 50% by MUGA or echocardiogram No symptomatic congestive heart failure No symptomatic coronary artery disease No cardiomyopathy No uncontrolled arrhythmia Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: No prior remission induction chemotherapy for acute lymphocytic leukemia