OUTLINE: Patients receive amifostine IV over 1-3 minutes on days 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, and 26 plus azacitidine subcutaneously on days 1-7. Treatment repeats every 28 days for 4 courses. Patients who achieve complete remission receive an additional 3 courses, and patients who achieve hematologic improvement or partial remission continue treatment until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients are followed until death.