Chemotherapy and Peripheral Stem Cell Transplantation Followed by Immunotherapy in Treating Patients With Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

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 re…