Everolimus MICE-regimen in Treating Older Patients With Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (unequivocal) according to WHO diagnostic criteria (at least 20% blasts in the bone marrow), with FAB classification other than M3 (acute promyelocytic leukemia), and documented by bone marrow aspiration (or biopsy in case of dry tap) * Previously untreated primary or secondary AML (including AML following antecedent myelodysplasia) * No blast transformation of chronic myeloid leukemia or other myeloproliferative disorders * No active CNS leukemia PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * WHO performance status 0-2 * Total serum bilirubin \< 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Serum creatinine \< 2 times ULN * ALT/AST ≤ 3 times ULN (unless due to organ leukemic involvement) * LVEF ≥ 50% by echocardiogram * No other concurrent active malignancy * No active uncontrolled infection * No known active hepatitis B or C or HIV positivity * No active heart disease including myocardial infarction within the past 3 months, symptomatic coronary artery disease, cardiac arrhythmias not controlled by medications, or uncontrolled congestive heart failure * No medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, places the patient at an unacceptably high risk for toxicities * No other known condition (e.g., familial, sociological, or geographical) or behavior (including drug dependence or abuse, psychological or psychiatric illness) that, in the opinion of the investigator, would make the patient a poor candidate for the tri…