OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the toxic effects and feasibility of high-dose cytarabine and idarubicin in patients with refractory or relapsed acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) after a complete remission (CR) of less than 18 months. II. Determine the response of patients with ALL in first relapse after a CR of 18 months or more treated with a 2-phase re-induction regimen comprising prednisolone, vindesine, daunorubicin, asparaginase, intrathecal (IT) cytarabine, IT dexamethasone, and IT methotrexate followed by prednisolone, ifosfamide, high-dose methotrexate, leucovorin calcium, etoposide, and cytarabine (with a dose-escalation study of etoposide and cytarabine). III. Compare the effectiveness of these 2 regimens administered to these patients with the regimen administered to historic controls (protocol GER-ALL-REZ- 01/88).