OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the ability of mobilization using cytarabine, etoposide, and filgrastim (G-CSF), conditioning using busulfan and etoposide, and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation to generate a 2-year disease-free survival rate in at least 30% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in second complete remission. II. Determine whether the treatment-related mortality can be limited to less than 20% in patients treated with this regimen. III. Determine whether adequate numbers of PBSC can be collected in these patients. IV. Determine the engraftment kinetics of primed PBSC obtained from these patients.