Inclusion Criteria:

* Unequivocal histologic diagnosis of ALL
* Detection of the t(9;22)(q34;q11) or 3-way variant by metaphase cytogenetics or BCR-ABL positive by molecular analysis (RT-PCR or fluorescence in situ hybridization \[FISH})
* Prior Therapy:

* Complete or partial remission following one course of induction chemotherapy with an intensive 4 or 5 drug regimen (with or without imatinib mesylate) on a CALGB or SWOG ALL protocol for previously untreated ALL patients

* Note: The double induction regimen of SWOG S0333 is considered to be one course of induction chemotherapy for the purpose of this eligibility criterion; therefore, patients from S0333 may be eligible for this study only after completing the entire double induction regimen
* Complete or partial remission following one course of therapy on any standard induction regimen (with or without imatinib mesylate) without prior enrollment on a cooperative group frontline protocol; in these instances, documentation of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)+ positivity may occur outside a CALGB or SWOG laboratory

* Note: CALGB institutions must enroll patients on CALGB 9862 and submission of an initial sample for the companion trial must occur at time of enrollment on CALGB C10001; enrollment on companion studies CALGB 8461 and 9665 is not required
* No more than six weeks of prior imatinib mesylate during induction therapy before study enrollment
* Non-pregnant and non-nursing; treatment under this protocol would expose an unborn child to significant risks; women and men of reproductive potential should agree to use an effective means of birth control and contraception should continue for three months after the last dose of imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) to allow complete clearance of drug and its principle metabolites from the body; in women of childbearing potential, a pregnancy test will be required at study entry