BMS-354825 in Treating Patients With Chronic Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia That Is Resistant to Imatinib Mesylate

INCLUSION CRITERIA: Diagnosis of Philadelphia chromosome positive, chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) meeting all of the following criteria*: Less than 15% blasts in peripheral blood and bone marrow Less than 20% basophils in peripheral blood Less than 30% blasts and promyelocytes in peripheral blood and bone marrow Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 NOTE: *Patients who previously met the criteria for accelerated phase or blast phase CML, responded to treatment, and currently meet the criteria for chronic phase CML are eligible Primary or acquired hematologic resistance to imatinib mesylate OR intolerance to imatinib mesylate defined as follows: Primary hematologic resistance is defined as failure to reach complete hematologic response (CHR) with a dose of 400 mg/day continued for at least 3 months Patients with hematological progression (i.e., WBC at least 10,000/mm^3 and rising consistently on at least 2 consecutive measurements obtained at least 14 days apart) while receiving imatinib mesylate of 400 mg/day are eligible if they have received less than 3 months of therapy Acquired hematologic resistance is defined as achieving a CHR, but subsequently developing a rising WBC to at least 10,000/mm^3 WBC must be at least 10,000/mm^3 and rising on at least 2 measurements obtained at least 14 days apart with at least 1 of these measurements greater than 15,000/mm^3 Intolerance is defined as having discontinued imatinib mesylate due to nonhematologic toxicity of any grade CD4^+ T-cell count at least 350/mm^3 18 and over ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy, At least 6 months. Hepatic Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL ALT and AST no greater than 2.0 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Renal Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN Potassium normal* Magnesium normal* Serum calcium or ionized calcium at least lower limit of normal NOTE: *Patients with low levels may be repleted to be eligible Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception for 1 month before, during, and 1 month after study participation More than 14 days since prior interferon More than 14 days since prior cytarabine More than 3 days since prior hydroxyurea More than 28 days since other prior investigational or antineoplastic agents More than 7 days since prior imatinib mesylate At least 5 days or 5 half-lives since prior medications that inhibit platelet function, including the following: Aspirin Dipyridamole Epoprostenol Eptifibatide Clopidogrel Cilostazol Abciximab Ticlopidine At least 5 days or 5 half-lives since prior anticoagulants such as warfarin or heparin/low molecular weight heparin (e.g., danaparoid, dalteparin, tinzaparin, enoxaparin) At least 5 days or 5 half-lives since prior drugs accepted to have a risk of causing torsades de pointes, including the following: Class IA antiarrhythmic agents (e.g., quinidine, procainamide, or disopyramide) Class III antiarrhythmic agents (e.g., amiodarone, sotalol, ibutilide, or dofetilide) Macrolide antibiotics (e.g., erythromycin or clarithromycin) Antipsychotics (e.g., chlorpromazine, haloperidol, thioridazine, or pimozide) Tricyclic antidepressants Cisapride Bepridil Inapsine Methadone Arsenic Concurrent anagrelide for thrombocytosis due to CML allowed Exclusion Criteria: extramedullary involvement (other than liver or spleen) significant bleeding disorder unrelated to CML acquired bleeding disorder within the past year (e.g., acquired antifactor VIII antibodies) congenital bleeding disorders (e.g., von Willebrand disease) uncontrolled or significant cardiovascular disease uncontrolled angina within the past 6 months congestive heart failure within the past 6 months myocardial infarction within the past 12 months history of clinically significant ventricular arrhythmias (e.g., ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, or torsades de pointes) history of second or third degree heart block (may be eligible if patient has a pacemaker) diagnosed or suspected congenital long QT syndrome prolonged QTc interval on pre-entry EKG (i.e., greater than 450 msec) heart rate less than 50/minute on pre-entry EKG uncontrolled hypertension vasculitis pregnant or nursing gastrointestinal tract bleeding within the past 6 months connective tissue disorders other serious uncontrolled medical disorder or active infection that would impair the ability to receive study therapy dementia or altered mental status that would preclude giving informed consent evidence of organ dysfunction or any clinically significant deviation from normal in physical examination, vital signs, EKG, or clinical laboratory determinations unrelated to CML prisoners or patients who are compulsorily detained (e.g., involuntary incarceration for treatment of either a psychiatric or physical [e.g., infectious disease] illness) concurrent drugs accepted to have a risk of causing torsades de pointes other concurrent treatment for CML concurrent dolasetron or droperidol concurrent anticoagulants concurrent medications that inhibit platelet function