Active clinical trials for "Myelodysplastic Syndromes"

The investigators hypothesize that, in addition to its apoptotic effect, clofarabine induces DNA hypomethylation. If the investigators' hypothesis is correct, findings from the present proposal will not only contribute to information relating to the mechanisms of action of clofarabine but also provide the opportunity for combined epigenetic targeting of MDS using clofarabine with either another hypomethylating agent or a histone deacetylase inhibitor. Clofarabine has demonstrated anti-cancer activity through inhibition of DNA synthesis and repair, induction of apoptosis, and possibly through other mechanisms. Numerous responses have been observed after treatment with clofarabine in heavily pre-treated relapsed/refractory patients with ALL, AML and high risk MDS. In the present proposal, the investigators will study the clinical and laboratory effects of 2 different dosages of clofarabine in patients who have failed the hypomethylating agent, 5-azacytidine. This study will recruit patients who have received at least six cycles of 5-azacytidine without response or whose disease has progressed or relapsed while on 5-azacytidine. The first cohort of patients will receive clofarabine 10 mg/m2/day for five days and the second cohort of patients 5 mg/m2/day for five days, both every four to six weeks. The investigators will determine the frequency of response to the two dosages of nucleoside analog in this group of patients. Measurement of responses will include improvement in the peripheral blood count, reduction in the blood and platelet transfusion need and eradication of cytogenetically abnormal clones. Successful completion of this study will define the position of clofarabine in MDS in the era of epigenetic targeting.

RATIONALE: Giving chemotherapy and total-body irradiation before a donor umbilical cord blood transplant helps stop the growth of cancer and abnormal cells and helps stop the patient's immune system from rejecting the donor's stem cells. When the stem cells from a related or unrelated donor, that do not exactly match the patient's blood, are infused into the patient they may help the patient's bone marrow to make stem cells, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying how well donor umbilical cord blood transplant works in treating patients with hematologic cancer.

This phase I trial studies the side effects and best dose of iodine I 131monoclonal antibody BC8 when given together with fludarabine phosphate, cyclophosphamide, total-body irradiation, and donor bone marrow transplant, and to see how well they work in treating patients with acute myeloid leukemia or acute lymphoblastic leukemia that has spread to nearby or other places in the body (advanced), or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome. Giving chemotherapy drugs, such as fludarabine phosphate and cyclophosphamide, and total-body irradiation before a donor 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. Also, radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies, such as iodine I 131 monoclonal antibody 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 cyclophosphamide together with mycophenolate mofetil and tacrolimus after the transplant may stop this from happening. Giving a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody together with donor stem cell transplant, fludarabine phosphate, cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil, and tacrolimus may be an effective treatment for advanced acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or myelodysplastic syndromes.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as clofarabine and cytarabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Colony-stimulating factors, such as G-CSF, may increase the number of immune cells found in bone marrow or in peripheral blood and may help the immune system recover from the side effects of chemotherapy. Giving clofarabine and cytarabine together with G-CSF may kill more cancer cells. PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects and best dose of clofarabine and to see how well it works when given together with cytarabine and G-CSF in treating patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

The goal of this clinical research study is to find the highest tolerable dose of AT9283 that can be given to patients who have ALL, AML, CML, high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes, or myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia. Researchers want to perform pharmacokinetic (PK) testing on blood to find out how quickly the study drug leaves the body and how the body breaks down the drug. The safety and effectiveness of this drug will also be studied.

This phase II trial is studying how well aflibercept works in treating patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. Aflibercept may be able to carry cancer-killing substances directly to myelodysplastic syndrome cells. It may also stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking blood flow to the cancer

This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of decitabine in treating patients with myelodysplastic syndromes or acute myeloid leukemia. Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die.

The purpose of this study is to assess the benefit of lonafarnib (versus placebo) in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). Benefit will be measured by achievement of platelet transfusion independence for at least 8-consecutive weeks, and without simultaneous worsening of hemoglobin and/or need for red blood cell (RBC) transfusion. Additional endpoints will be hematologic response (which includes complete remission, partial remission, hematologic improvement), number of RBC transfusions, bleeding events, infections and safety.

To study if decitabine can help to control Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) in patients who have failed on therapy with azacytidine, the current standard of therapy.

This study is to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of vorinostat in patients with lower risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS).