Phase II Study of Clofarabine in Pediatric Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) Patients

Inclusion Criteria: Have a diagnosis of AML according to FAB classification with greater than or equal to 25% blasts in the bone marrow. Be less than or equal to 21 years old at time of initial diagnosis. Not be eligible for therapy of higher curative potential, and must be in first or subsequent relapse and/or refractory. Where an alternative therapy has been shown to prolong survival in an analogous population, this should be offered to the patient prior to discussing this study. Patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (M3) must have been treated with at least 2 regimens-a retinoic acid-containing regimen and an arsenic trioxide-containing regimen before being considered for this study. Have a Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) of greater than or equal to 70. Provide signed, written informed consent from parent or guardian and assent from patients greater than or equal to 7 years old according to local IRB and institutional requirements. Have adequate organ function as indicated by the following laboratory values, obtained within 2 weeks prior to registration: Serum bilirubin less than or equal to 1.5 x ULN; AST and ALT less than or equal to 5 x ULN; Serum Creatinine less than 2 x ULN for age. ULN= Institutional Upper Limit of Normal Exclusion Criteria: Received previous treatment with Clofarabine. Have an active, uncontrolled systemic infection considered opportunistic, life threatening, or clinically significant at the time of treatment. Are pregnant or lactating. Male and female patients who are fertile must agree to use an effective means of birth control (i.e., latex condom, diaphragm, cervical cap, etc) to avoid pregnancy. Have psychiatric disorders that would interfere with consent, study participation, or follow up. Are receiving any other chemotherapy. Patients must have been off previous therapy for at least 2 weeks (with the exception of intrathecal therapy, which is allowed up to 24hrs prior to 1st dose of study drug) and must have recovered from acute toxicity of all previous therapy prior to enrollment. Treatment may start earlier, following consultation with the ILEX Medical Monitor, if there is evidence of disease relapse prior to that time. Have any other severe concurrent disease, which, in the judgment of the investigator, would make the patient inappropriate for entry into this study. Have symptomatic CNS involvement. Febrile neutropenia at time of study entry. Known or suspected fungal infection (ie. patients on parenteral antifungal therapy).