Methotrexate Followed by Fludarabine in Patients With T-Cell Large Granular Lymphocytic Leukemia

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as methotrexate and fludarabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well methotrexate works as first-line therapy and fludarabine works as second-line therapy in treating patients with T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia.