Active clinical trials for "Anemia, Refractory"

This phase I trial studies the side effects and immune response to DEC-205/NY-ESO-1 fusion protein CDX-1401 and decitabine in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia. DEC-205-NY-ESO-1 fusion protein, called CDX-1401, is a full length NY-ESO-1 protein sequence fused to a monoclonal antibody against DEC-205, a surface marker present on many immune stimulatory cells. This drug is given with another substance called PolyICLC, which acts to provoke any immune stimulatory cells which encounter the NY-ESO-1-DEC-205 fusion protein to produce an immune response signal against NY-ESO-1. Immune cells which have thus been primed to react against NY-ESO-1 may then attack myelodysplastic or leukemic cells which express NY-ESO-1 after exposure to the drug decitabine. The chemotherapy drug decitabine is thought to act in several different ways, first, it may directly kill cancer cells, and secondly, the drug can cause cancer cells to re-express genes that are turned off by the cancer, including the gene for NY-ESO-1. Giving DEC-205/NY-ESO-1 fusion protein (CDX-1401) and polyICLC together with decitabine may allow the immune system to more effectively recognize cancer cells and kill them.

This phase II trial is studying the safety and potential efficacy of infusing non-human leukocyte antigen matched ex vivo expanded cord blood progenitors with one or two unmanipulated umbilical cord blood units for transplantation following conditioning with fludarabine phosphate, cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation, and immunosuppression with cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil for patients with hematologic malignancies. Chemotherapy, such as fludarabine phosphate and cyclophosphamide, and total-body irradiation given before an umbilical cord blood transplant stops the growth of leukemia cells and works to prevent the patient's immune system from rejecting the donor's stem cells. The healthy stem cells from the donor's umbilical cord blood help the patient's bone marrow make new red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. It may take several weeks for these new blood cells to grow. During that period of time, patients are at increased risk for bleeding and infection. Faster recovery of white blood cells may decrease the number and severity of infections. Studies have shown that counts recover more quickly when more cord blood cells are given with the transplant. We have developed a way of growing or "expanding" the number of cord blood cells in the lab so that there are more cells available for transplant. We are doing this study to find out whether or not giving these expanded cells along with one or two unexpanded cord blood units is safe and if use of expanded cells can decrease the time it takes for white blood cells to recover after transplant. We will study the time it takes for blood counts to recover, which of the two or three cord blood units makes up the patient's new blood system, and how quickly immune system cells return.

This phase I trial studies the side effects and maximum tolerated dose of yttrium Y 90 anti-cluster of differentiation 45 (CD45) monoclonal antibody BC8 (90Y-BC8) followed by donor stem cell transplant in treating patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) that is likely to come back or spread. Giving chemotherapy drugs, such as fludarabine phosphate (FLU), and total-body irradiation (TBI) before a donor peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) or bone marrow transplant helps stop the growth of cancer or abnormal cells and helps stop the patient's immune system from rejecting the donor's stem cells. Radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies, such as 90Y-BC8, can find cancer cells and carry cancer-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. When the healthy stem cells from a donor are infused into the patient they may help the patient's bone marrow make stem cells, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Sometimes the transplanted cells from a donor can make an immune response against the body's normal cells. Giving FLU, 90Y-BC8, and TBI before the transplant together with cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil after the transplant may stop this from happening.

The purpose of this research study is to determine if the GM-K562/leukemia cell vaccine can be safely given soon after allogeneic marrow or blood stem cell transplant. The GM-K562/leukemia cell vaccine is composed of a cultured cell line that has been genetically modified to secrete GM-CSF, a naturally occuring substance in the body that stimulates the immune system. The vaccine is a mixture of the GM-K562 cells (radiated to prevent them from growing in the participants body) with the participant's previously frozen and killed leukemia cells. By mixing the GM-K562 with the leukemia cells, we would like to study whether this vaccine combination will stimulate the participant's new immune system to recognize and fight against their MDS/AML cancer cells.

RATIONALE: Decitabine may help myelodysplastic cells become more like normal stem cells. PURPOSE: This clinical trial studies differentiation therapy with decitabine in treating patients with myelodysplastic syndrome.

This phase II trial is studying how well giving MS-275 together with GM-CSF works in treating patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and/or relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia. MS-275 may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth and by blocking blood flow to the cancer. Colony-stimulating factors, such as GM-CSF, may increase the number of immune cells found in bone marrow or peripheral blood. Giving MS-275 together with GM-CSF may be an effective treatment for myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia

This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of flavopiridol when given together with vorinostat in treating patients with relapsed or refractory acute leukemia or chronic myelogenous leukemia or refractory anemia. Flavopiridol and vorinostat may cause leukemia cells to look more like normal cells, and to grow and spread more slowly. Vorinostat may also stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Giving flavopiridol together with vorinostat may be an effective treatment for leukemia or refractory anemia.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Zosuquidar trihydrochloride, a modulator of multidrug resistance (MDR), may help daunorubicin and cytarabine kill more cancer cells by making cancer cells more sensitive to the drugs. It is not yet known whether daunorubicin and cytarabine are more effective with or without zosuquidar trihydrochloride in treating acute myeloid leukemia or anemia. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying how well giving zosuquidar trihydrochloride together with daunorubicin and cytarabine works compared to daunorubicin and cytarabine alone in treating older patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia or anemia that has not responded to previous treatment.

This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of lenalidomide in treating young patients with relapsed or refractory solid tumors or myelodysplastic syndromes. Lenalidomide may stop the growth of solid tumors or myelodysplastic syndromes by blocking blood flow to the cancer. It may also stimulate the immune system in different ways and stop cancer cells from growing.

This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of tanespimycin when given with cytarabine in treating patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, or myelodysplastic syndromes. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as tanespimycin and cytarabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Tanespimycin may also help cytarabine kill more cancer cells by making cancer cells more sensitive to the drug. Giving tanespimycin together with cytarabine may kill more cancer cells.