This paper investigates an optimal control problem associated with a complex nonlinear system of multiple delay differential equations modeling the development of healthy and leukemic cell populations incorporating the immune system. The model takes into account space competition between normal cells and leukemic cells at two phases of the development of hematopoietic cells. The control problem consists in optimizing the treatment effect while minimizing the side effects. The Pontryagin minimum principle is applied and important conclusions about the character of the optimal therapy strategy are drawn.