OUTLINE: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to age (60-69 years vs 70 years and over), disease (refractory anemia with excess blasts [RAEB] vs RAEB in transformation or acute myeloid leukemia [AML]), and disease type (de novo vs secondary). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.