Interferon Alfa and Imatinib Mesylate in Treating Patients With Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

Inclusion Criteria

• •DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Diagnosis of chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia
• •* Cytogenetically confirmed Philadelphia chromosome-positive disease or other variant of t(9;22)
• •* No secondary chromosomal abnormalities
• •* No more than 10% blasts in bone marrow
• •* Newly diagnosed OR
• •* Received prior imatinib mesylate as a single agent for no more than the past 9 months without achieving a complete cytogenetic response
• •No evidence of extramedullary involvement except nodes, liver, or spleen
• •PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Age
• •Any age
• •Performance status
• •ECOG 0-3
• •Life expectancy
• •Not specified
• •Hematopoietic
• •Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3
• •Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm\^3
• •Hepatic
• •Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• •SGOT no greater than 2 times ULN
• •INR no greater than 1.5 times ULN\*
• •PTT no greater than 1.5 times ULN\* NOTE: \* Except patients on anticoagulants
• •Renal
• •Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN
• •Other
• •Considered potentially reliable
• •No history of noncompliance to medical regimens
• •No other active malignancy requiring chemotherapy or radiotherapy
• •Not pregnant or nursing
• •Negative pregnancy test
• •Fertile patients must use effective barrier-method contraception during and for at least 3 months after study
• •PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• •Biologic therapy
• •No prior interferon therapy
• •No prior stem cell or bone marrow transplantation
• •Chemotherapy
• •No prior chemotherapy (except hydroxyurea and/or anagrelide to control counts)
• •Endocrine therapy
• •Not specified
• •Radiotherapy
• •Not specified
• •Surgery
• •At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered
• •Other
• •No concurrent grapefruit juice or grapefruit products
• •No concurrent warfarin
• •Concurrent low-molecular weight heparin allowed