Active clinical trials for "Myelodysplastic Syndromes"

RATIONALE: Donor peripheral stem cell transplantation may be able to replace bone marrow and immune cells that were destroyed by chemotherapy. Sometimes the transplanted cells from a donor are rejected by the body's normal cells. Eliminating the T cells from the donor cells before transplanting them and giving cyclosporine may prevent this from happening. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects of T-cell-depleted allogeneic stem cell transplantation after immunoablative induction chemotherapy and reduced-intensity transplantation conditioning (chemotherapy) in treating patients with hematologic malignancies.

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is a risky procedure. If doctors could reduce the complications, BMT would be safer to use for a wider range of conditions. The purposes of this study are to prevent graft rejection by increasing the amount of immunosuppression and by giving some lymphocytes from the donor before transplant; to prevent graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) by transplanting T-cell depleted stem cells; to improve the immune effect against residual leukemia by the add-back of donor lymphocytes before transplant and six or more weeks after transplant. Beyond the standard transplant protocol, study participants will undergo additional procedures. First, along with total body irradiation, patients will receive two drugs (a high dose of cyclophosphamide and fludarabine) to suppress immunity and prevent rejection of the transplant. Second, four days before the transplant, patients will be given donor lymphocytes that have been irradiated to make them incapable of causing GVHD. On the day of the transplant, patients will receive an infusion of T-cell depleted bone marrow stem cells. Finally, patients will receive two doses of add-back donor T-cells (45 and 100 days post transplant) and the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporine starting on day 44 until about six months after transplant. Study participants must be between the ages of 10 and 56 and have a family member who is a suitable stem cell donor match.

The goal is to compare the drug combinations clofarabine/idarubicin/ara-C, clofarabine/ara-C, and clofarabine/idarubicin in the treatment of patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, high-grade MDS, or myeloid blast phase of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia who have relapsed following their initial therapy.

This phase II trial is studying the side effects and best dose of alemtuzumab when given together with fludarabine phosphate and total-body irradiation followed by cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil in treating patients who are undergoing a donor stem cell transplant for hematologic cancer. Giving low doses of chemotherapy, such as fludarabine phosphate, a monoclonal antibody, such as alemtuzumab, and radiation therapy before a donor 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 bone marrow 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.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as arsenic trioxide and gemtuzumab ozogamicin, 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 II trial is studying how well giving arsenic trioxide together with gemtuzumab ozogamicin works in treating patients with advanced myelodysplastic syndromes.

RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies, such as alemtuzumab, 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. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as fludarabine and busulfan, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. A peripheral stem cell, bone marrow , or umbilical cord blood transplant may be able to replace blood-forming cells that were destroyed by chemotherapy. Sometimes the transplanted cells from a donor can make an immune response against the body's normal cells. Giving cyclosporine together with methotrexate and methylprednisolone may stop this from happening. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving alemtuzumab together with fludarabine and busulfan works when given before donor stem cell transplant in treating young patients with hematologic disorders.

The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if clofarabine given by mouth on a weekly schedule can help to control MDS. The safety of clofarabine given by mouth will also be studied.

The goal of this clinical research study is to find the highest tolerable dose of gimatecan that can be given to treat myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if using a combination of fludarabine, busulfan, and antithymocyte globulin (ATG) can help to control myelofibrosis or myelodysplastic syndrome in patients receiving a bone marrow or blood stem cell transplant. The safety of these drugs will also be studied.

This phase II trial is studying how well cediranib maleate works in treating patients with relapsed, refractory, or untreated acute myeloid leukemia or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome. Cediranib maleate may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth and by blocking blood flow to the cancer.