Cyclosporine in Treating Patients With Low Blood Counts Caused By Hematologic Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia * Increased numbers of large granular lymphocytes in peripheral blood smears * CD3+CD8+CD57+ immunophenotype by flow cytometry AND * CD3+CD57+ cell count at least 2,000/mm\^3 OR * CD3+CD57+ cell count at least 500/mm\^3 with clonal T-cell receptor beta gene rearrangement * Patients must have at least 1 of the following: * Severe neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count (ANC) less than 500/mm\^3) * Neutropenia (ANC less than 1,000/mm\^3) and recurrent infections * Anemia (hemoglobin less than 9 g/dL) * Thrombocytopenia (platelet count less than 50,000/mm\^3) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * NCI CTC 0-3 Hematopoietic: * See Disease Characteristics Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Endocrine therapy: * No concurrent hormonal therapy except steroids for adrenal failure or hormones for nondisease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes) * No concurrent dexamethasone or other steroidal antiemetics Other: * No prior cyclosporine therapy for this leukemia