Active clinical trials for "Hematologic Neoplasms"

The purpose of this study is to determine the dose that can be safely given to see what effect it may have on your cancer and to determine how the drug is distributed in the body.

Objectives: To evaluate disease free survival after Campath 1H-based in vivo T-cell depletion and non-myelo-ablative ablative stem cell transplantation in patients with hematologic malignancies. To evaluate the incidence and severity of acute and chronic GVHD after Campath 1H-based in vivo T-cell depletion, in patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing non-myelo-ablative stem cell transplantation. To evaluate engraftment and chimerism after Campath 1H-based in vivo T-cell depletion and non-myelo-ablative ablative stem cell transplantation in patients with hematologic malignancies.

The purpose of this study is to estimate the maximum tolerated dose of dexamethasone given for 5 consecutive days when combined with fixed doses of irinotecan (given IV, qd x 5, 2 days off, qd x 5) and vincristine (given IV, 2 doses total on days 1 and 8 of schedule) in children with relapsed or refractory hematologic malignancies. In addition we will also study the pharmacokinetics of irinotecan when given without and then with dexamethasone in each patient, evaluate the relationship between irinotecan pharmacokinetic parameters and toxicity and describe any antitumor effects.

The purpose of this study is to develop a way of treating patients who do not have a completely matched family donor or a readily available unrelated donor with bone marrow transplant by using a partially-matched family donor. Patients receiving this type of transplant will receive chemotherapy and/or radiation to treat their disease. They will also receive their donor's cells in 2 parts. During the first part, the donor's lymphocytes will be exposed to one of the chemotherapy agents to help the patient become tolerant to the lymphocytes. In the second part of the transplant, the patient will receive their donor's stem cells to help recover their peripheral blood counts and establish long-term engraftment. The hypothesis of this study is that in partially-matched allogeneic transplant, there is a defined number of donor T-cells that can be treated and given to the recipient to avoid post-transplant infection without causing severe graft-versus-host disease.

The purpose of this study is to test the safety of adding donor dendritic cells to donor lymphocyte infusions, and to determine the type and severity of any side effects associated with this addition. Previously patients with hematologic malignancies who relapsed after transplant have been given infusions of donor white blood cells (donor lymphocyte infusion, DLI) as a way to boost their immune function and fight disease. Although DLI has led to cancer regression in some patients, the overall response rate using DLI alone is low, and unfortunately, rarely lasting. Researchers have discovered a new subset of blood cells, called dendritic cells (DC), which are crucial partners to lymphocytes in generating an immune response. We believe that the infusion of DC together with DLI may improve the ability of the donor lymphocytes to recognize and kill cancer cells.

This single center study will help determine the absorption, metabolism, and excretion of LBH589 and to assess the safety and efficacy of LBH589 in advanced cancer patients for whom no standard therapy exists.

The purpose of this study is to find out if Darbepoetin alfa is effective in treating low red blood cell levels after allogeneic stem cell transplant. Darbepoetin alfa has been shown to help raise red blood cell levels without blood transfusions.

This phase I multicenter feasibility trial is studying the safety and potential efficacy of infusing ex vivo expanded cord blood progenitors with one unmanipulated umbilical cord blood unit for transplantation following conditioning with fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation (TBI), and immunosuppression with cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) for patients with hematologic malignancies. Chemotherapy, such as fludarabine and cyclophosphamide, and TBI 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 are more likely to recover more quickly if increased numbers of 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 unexpanded cord blood unit 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 cord blood units makes up the patient's new blood system, and how quickly immune system cells return

This phase I/II trial studies whether stopping cyclosporine before mycophenolate mofetil is better at reducing the risk of life-threatening graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) than the previous approach where mycophenolate mofetil was stopped before cyclosporine. The other reason this study is being done because at the present time there are no curative therapies known outside of stem cell transplantation for these types of cancer. Because of age or underlying health status, patients may have a higher likelihood of experiencing harm from a conventional blood stem cell transplant. This study tests whether this new blood stem cell transplant method can be made safer by changing the order and length of time that immune suppressing drugs are given after transplant.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as VNP40101M and cytarabine, use different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining more than one drug may kill more cancer cells. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of combining VNP40101M with cytarabine in treating patients who have hematologic malignancies, including myelodysplastic syndrome or relapsed, refractory, or untreated leukemia.