Active clinical trials for "Myelodysplastic Syndromes"

Allogeneic transplantation is used to treat many malignant and non-malignant diseases, though the potential toxicities of the procedure remain high. We and others have shown that a less toxic preparative regimen allows reliable allogeneic engraftment for allogeneic transplantation. The primary purpose of this treatment trial is to follow subjects undergoing allogeneic transplantation for long term outcomes. The regimen used has been tested in our prior phase I / II trial which has completed accrual. The issues of engraftment and rate of graft versus host disease have been answered and our success has led to this regimen being a standard approach for less toxic allogeneic therapy.

This randomized phase II trial studies azacitidine with or without entinostat to see how well they work compared to azacitidine alone in treating patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, or acute myeloid leukemia. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as azacitidine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Entinostat may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Giving azacitidine together with entinostat may work better in treating patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, or acute myeloid leukemia.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as decitabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of myelodysplastic cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Tretinoin and decitabine may help myelodysplastic cells become more like normal cells, and to grow and spread more slowly. Giving decitabine together with tretinoin may be an effective treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes. PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects and best dose of tretinoin when given together with decitabine in treating patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

Primary Objective: 1. To evaluate whether 5 azacytidine (5-aza)/valproic acid (VPA) or low dose ara-C produces longer event free survival time in patients age > or = 60 years with untreated Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) or high risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) who are typically ineligible for, or not placed on, studies of new agents. Secondary Objective: 1. To evaluate whether pre-treatment methylation/acetylation status in AML/MDS blasts predicts response to either therapy or whether the ability of the 5 azacytidine + valproic acid combination to induce demethylation or acetylation parallels response.

RATIONALE: Giving chemotherapy and total body irradiation before a donor bone marrow transplant or peripheral blood stem cell transplant helps stop the growth of cancer cells. It also helps stop the patient's immune system from rejecting the donor's stem 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 antithymocyte globulin and removing the T cells from the donor cells before transplant may stop this from happening. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of donor T cells and antithymocyte globulin when given together with chemotherapy and total-body irradiation in treating young patients who are undergoing T-cell depleted donor stem cell transplant for myelodysplastic syndrome, leukemia, bone marrow failure syndrome, or severe immunodeficiency disease.

The purpose of this study is to determine the safety of sequential cord blood transplantation (2 cord blood units) for patients who have diseases that are capable of being cured by allogeneic stem cell transplant but do not have a matched family or volunteer unrelated donor.

RATIONALE: Giving chemotherapy, such as fludarabine phosphate, busulfan, and cyclophosphamide, and total-body radiation therapy before a donor peripheral stem cell transplant helps stop the growth of cancer cells. It may also stop the patient's immune system from rejecting the donor's stem 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. It is not yet known whether low-dose chemotherapy and total-body radiation therapy is more effective than high-dose chemotherapy in treating patients with myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia. PURPOSE: This phase III trial is studying low-dose conditioning to see how well it works compared to high-dose conditioning followed by peripheral blood stem cell transplant in treating patients with myelodysplastic syndromes or acute myeloid leukemia

5-aza is a chemotherapy drug with activity in leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Researchers hope that valproic acid (VPA) and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)will increase the effects of 5-aza. The goal of this clinical research study is to find the highest safe dose of valproic acid (VPA) that can be given in combination with 5-azacytidine (5-aza) and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in the treatment of AML and MDS. The safety and effectiveness of this combination therapy will also be studied. Additional blood and bone marrow samples will be requested. These samples will be used to evaluate the effect of the treatment on leukemic cells. In addition, any leftover blood and bone marrow samples that are collected at the start of the study and during the regularly scheduled evaluations to be sent for research studies. The research studies will examine changes in the blood and bone marrow cells that might help explain the causes of leukemia and MDS and how the combination of 5-aza, VPA, and ATRA works.

This is a new platform in non-myeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation to improve survival by harnessing the immunologic potential of donor T-cells to induce and maintain long-term remissions in patients with hematologic malignancies without undue toxicity. This study involves is the first study in humans directed at optimizing the graft vs leukemia effect by infusing activated T-cells from healthy donors prophylactically, months after recovery from the initial transplant. Investigators are studying whether the activation of donor cells prior to infusion will enhance the patient's ability to "seek and destroy" residual malignant cells while also helping the immune system to fight infection without increasing the immune reaction against the host.

This phase II trial studies the side effects and best dose of total-body irradiation when given together with fludarabine phosphate followed by a donor peripheral stem cell transplant in treating patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or myeloproliferative disorders (MPD). 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. Giving chemotherapy or radiation therapy before or after transplant also stops the patient's immune system from rejecting the donor's stem cells. The donated stem cells may replace the patient's immune cells 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 cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil after the transplant may stop this from happening.