Active clinical trials for "Leukemia, Lymphoid"

We would like patients to be in a research study to determine the safety and effectiveness of special cells that may make their own immune system fight their cancer. To do this, we will put a special gene into cancer cells that have been taken from the patients body. This will be done in the laboratory. This gene will make the cells produce interleukin 2 (IL-2), which is a natural substance that may help their immune system kill cancer cells. Additionally, we will stimulate the cancer cells with normal embryonic fibroblasts (cells that develop into normal connective tissues in the body) so that they will make another natural protein called CD40 ligand (CD40L). Studies of cancers in animals suggest IL-2 performs better when mixed with CD40L. Some of these cells will then be put back into the patients body with the goal that they will act like a vaccine and stimulate their immune system to attack the CLL cells. Studies of cancers in animals and in cancer cells that are grown in laboratories suggest that combining substances like IL-2 and CD40L with cancer cells help the body recognize and kill cancer cells. We have already conducted a study similar to this in patients with CLL. In that study, the subjects received about three months of injections (shots). In those subjects we saw some changes in the subject's immune system that might indicate that the modified cells were helping their immune system fight the cancer. However, in most of the subjects this change in the immune system went away after the injections were stopped. In this study we want to see if we can make the change in the immune system last longer by giving more injections over a longer period of time. We hope that this might produce a better response directed at the CLL cells. We will also be looking at the effect on cells called cancer stem cells which grow into the CLL cells we see in the blood. Specifically, this study will allow subjects to receive the injections for up to one year.

The purpose of this research study is to see if Dasatinib is effective and safe to give to people with relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and to determine the effects of the drug on LYN kinase activity in blood and bone marrow. Recent research shows that a key enzyme in CLL cells is responsible for cell survival. This enzyme is called LYN kinase. Laboratory studies show that inhibition of LYN kinase in CLL cells results in the death to CLL cells. Dasatinib has the ability to inhibit LYN kinase and, therefore, should have some effect on CLL cells.

Improved outcome of high risk lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with laite high dose therapy. High dose versus conventional therapy for adult low risk T-ALL and Lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL).

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as fludarabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Darbepoetin alfa may cause the body to make more red blood cells. It is not yet known whether fludarabine is more effective with or without darbepoetin alfa in treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia. PURPOSE: This phase III trial is studying fludarabine to see how well it works when given together with or without darbepoetin alfa in treating older patients with chronic lymphocytic 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.

This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of vorinostat when given together with decitabine in treating patients with advanced solid tumors or relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, or chronic myelogenous leukemia. Vorinostat may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as decitabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving vorinostat together with decitabine may kill more cancer cells.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cytarabine and clofarabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving more than one drug (combination chemotherapy) may kill more cancer cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of clofarabine when given together with cytarabine and to see how well they work in treating patients with refractory or relapsed acute myeloid leukemia or acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety, toxicities, dosage and response rate for an investigational drug, motexafin gadolinium, administered to patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma. The secondary purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical benefit rate, the time it takes for a patient's chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma to worsen, the duration of response and the time during which patients survive without chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma worsening. Additionally, the patient's response to motexafin gadolinium will be compared to the response of the patient's cells in a laboratory to motexafin gadolinium.

The goal of this clinical research study is to see if Leukine(R) (sargramostim) improves the effectiveness of the pneumococcal vaccine, a medicine used to prevent pneumococcal pneumonia, in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

This research study will look at the effects (good or bad) of administering cyclophosphamide, fludarabine, and rituximab. Clinical studies with combination therapy have shown higher response rates than using single drugs, and this study will evaluate the side effects and effectiveness of this combination.