Active clinical trials for "Myelodysplastic Syndromes"

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cytarabine and daunorubicin, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Monoclonal antibodies, such as gemtuzumab ozogamicin, can block cancer growth in different ways. Some block the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Others find cancer cells and help kill them or carry cancer-killing substances to them. It is not yet known whether cytarabine and daunorubicin followed by gemtuzumab ozogamicin is more effective than cytarabine and daunorubicin in treating acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying cytarabine and two different doses of daunorubicin to see how well they work compared to cytarabine and daunorubicin followed by gemtuzumab ozogamicin in treating older patients with acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes.

This phase II trial studies how well tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil works in preventing graft-versus-host disease in patients who have undergone total-body irradiation (TBI) with or without fludarabine phosphate followed by donor peripheral blood stem cell transplant for hematologic cancer. Giving low doses of chemotherapy, such as fludarabine phosphate, and TBI before a donor peripheral blood stem cell transplant helps stop the growth of cancer cells. It also stops the patient's immune system from rejecting the donor's stem cells. The donated stem cells may replace the patient's immune system and help destroy any remaining cancer cells (graft-versus-tumor effect). Sometimes the transplanted cells from a donor can also make an immune response against the body's normal cells. Giving tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil after the transplant may stop this from happening.

Based on success in other diseases, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC) has developed a transplant procedure for Fanconi anemia (FA), which does not completely destroy the patient's remaining bone marrow. It should also be less harmful (toxic). Researchers wish to test whether this approach can overcome the graft failure often seen when bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells from an unrelated donor are used. Researchers also will look at whether the procedure is less toxic than a conventional bone marrow transplant (BMT).

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: Giving chemotherapy and total-body irradiation before a donor peripheral stem cell 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 donor, that do not exactly match the patient's blood, are infused into the patient they may help the patient's bone marrow make stem cells, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy followed by donor stem cell transplant works in treating patients with hematologic cancer.

This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects of biological therapy and to see how well it works in treating patients with advanced myelodysplastic syndrome, chronic myeloid leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, or acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Biological therapies, including immunotherapy, can potentially be used to stimulate the immune system and stop cancer cells from growing. Immunotherapy given to patients who have undergone donor stem cell transplantation may be a way to eradicate remaining cancer cells

The purpose of this trial is to to determine the safety and effectiveness of therapeutic combination - Clofarabine and Cytarabine for the treatment of AML and MDS.

This randomized phase II trial studies how well giving tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) with or without sirolimus works in preventing acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in patients undergoing donor stem cell transplant for hematologic cancer. Giving low doses of chemotherapy, such as fludarabine phosphate, and total-body-irradiation before a donor peripheral blood stem cell transplant helps stop the growth of cancer cells. It also stops the patient's immune system from rejecting the donor's stem cells. The donated stem cells may replace the patient's immune system and help destroy any remaining cancer cells (graft-versus-tumor effect). Sometimes the transplanted cells from a donor can also make an immune response against the body's normal cells. Giving MMF and tacrolimus with or without sirolimus after transplant may stop this from happening.

RATIONALE: Vatalanib may be effective in preventing the development of leukemia in patients who have myelodysplastic syndromes. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying vatalanib to see how well it works in treating patients with primary or secondary myelodysplastic syndromes.

This study will evaluate a new immunosupressive therapy, Daclizumab, and compare it with antithymocyte globulin (ATG) to treat cytopenia, that is, the deficiency of cellular elements of the blood, in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Daclizumab is an anti-interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2) antibody. MDS, also known as myelodysplasia, is a disorder that can cause anemia, spontaneous bleeding, and greater risk of infections. Although the bone marrow can still produce some blood cells, very few reach the bloodstream. The cause of MDS is not known, although its behavior is. Many patients need transfusions of red blood cells. They may also develop leukemia, which is often quite resistant to treatment with chemotherapy. However, the progression of the disorder to leukemia is usually slow, taking many years. Patients 18 years of age and older who have MDS may be eligible for this study. Participants will undergo the following tests and procedures: Medical history and physical examination. Collection of blood for tests including blood counts, liver and kidney function, and antibodies against common viruses. Chest x-ray. Electrocardiogram. Bone marrow sample to confirm the diagnosis. Participants will randomly receive either ATG or Daclizumab. If they are in the group to receive ATG, they will be admitted as inpatients to undergo the first 10 to 14 days of treatment. If they do not already have a catheter in one of the large veins of the neck, chest, or arm, one will be placed. ATG will be given through the catheter. Blood counts and other blood analysis will be monitored daily while the patients are treated. After about 10 days, they will be released, to be under the care of their referring physicians. Those participants who are in the group to receive Daclizumab will receive a total of five doses, one every 2 weeks, over 8 weeks, given through a vein as a 15-minute infusion. The first, third, and fifth dose will be given at the outpatient clinic. The second and fourth doses can be given either at the clinic or by the patients' primary hematologists. All patients will be followed as outpatients at 3-month intervals for the first year, and then every 6 months for the next 3 years. Afterward, follow-up will be yearly. A small sample of blood will be drawn at the visits. Also, bone marrow examinations will be requested at the 6-month intervals for the first 3 years of treatment. If the treatment that patients are assigned to does not work, after 6 months, they will be eligible to receive the other treatment-provided that they have complied with the required blood tests and visits to the clinic required to assess the patients' safety.