Daunorubicin Hydrochloride, Cytarabine and Oblimersen Sodium in Treating Patients With Previously Untreated Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Inclusion Criteria: * DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed acute myeloid leukemia * No promyelocytic leukemia * History of antecedent myelodysplasia allowed provided that the patient received no prior cytotoxic therapy for myelodysplastic syndromes * PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * Biologic therapy * Prior growth factor and/or cytokine support allowed * No concurrent routine or prophylactic myeloid growth factors * Chemotherapy * No prior chemotherapy for leukemia or myelodysplasia except under the following conditions: * Emergency leukapheresis * Emergency treatment for hyperleukocytosis with hydroxyurea * No other concurrent chemotherapy * Endocrine therapy * No concurrent hormones except steroids for adrenal failure or hormones for non-disease-related conditions allowed (e.g., insulin for diabetes) * Radiotherapy * Prior cranial radiotherapy for CNS leukostasis (1 dose only) allowed * No concurrent palliative radiotherapy * Surgery * Not specified * Other * Concurrent enrollment on CALGB-8461, CALGB-9665, and CALGB-9760 allowed * No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies intended to treat the malignancy