Fludarabine and Darbepoetin Alfa in Treating Older Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as fludarabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Darbepoetin alfa may cause the body to make more red blood cells. It is not yet known whether fludarabine is more effective with or without darbepoetin alfa in treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia. PURPOSE: This phase III trial is studying fludarabine to see how well it works when given together with or without darbepoetin alfa in treating older patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.