Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin or Tipifarnib in Treating Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia or High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Monoclonal antibodies, such as gemtuzumab ozogamicin, can block cancer growth in different ways. Some block the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Others find cancer cells and help kill them or carry cancer-killing substances to them. Tipifarnib may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Giving combination chemotherapy together with gemtuzumab ozogamicin or tipifarnib may kill more cancer cells. PURPOSE: This randomized phase II/III trial is studying different combination chemotherapy regimens to compare how well they work when given with or without gemtuzumab ozogamicin or tipifarnib in treating patients with acute myeloid leukemia or high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes.