Active clinical trials for "Myelodysplastic Syndromes"

Phase II trial combining azacitidine with valproic acid as maintenance therapy post allogeneic stem cell transplantation in patients with high-risk MDS/AML. We hypothesize that adding valproic acid to azacitidine will improve outcomes via both direct anti-tumor and immunologically mediated antitumor response with alloreactive donor lymphocytes, having an additive effect and extending 1 year survival in patient with high-risk AML/MDS after hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Based on aforementioned data from the US Department of Health and Human Services, standard 1 year survival for AML after stem cell transplant is near 40%. We hypothesize that valproic acid and azacitidine will prolong survival, with a 1 year survival goal of 60%. In addition to assessing for 1 year survival, we will have secondary objectives of assessing progression-free survival, relapse, and toxicity. The primary toxicity endpoint from this will be cytopenias and infections.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are bone marrow malignancies characterized by poor bone marrow function that may progress to acute myeloid leukemia. Many patients become red blood cell transfusion-dependent. Transfusion dependence is associated with inferior quality of life (QOL). However, the relationship between the degree of anemia and QOL is less clear. A commonly used transfusion strategy is to target the hemoglobin (Hb) in the range of 80-90 g/L (normal hemoglobin > 120-130g/L). The question is: would a higher hemoglobin target lead to improvement in QOL despite the negative impact transfusion dependence may have on QOL (due to associated time commitments, expense, transfusion reactions etc). Several groups have prospectively shown that targeting hemoglobin levels of greater than 120 g/L (with hematopoietic growth factors (HGFs) and/or blood transfusions) or incremental increases of 15-20 g/L (with HGFs alone) were associated with improved QOL. The investigators MDS program has been conducting prospective assessments of QOL since 2007 in all registered and consented patients using a variety of validated questionnaires. Preliminary analysis (in 236 patients) revealed that, compared with an age-matched healthy general population, MDS patients have inferior QOL. Transfusion dependence and anemia were independently predictive of poor functioning, fatigue and decreased health utility. Furthermore, a hemoglobin level of ≥100 g/L seemed to be the key threshold for improvement in function and symptom scores. The investigators hypothesize that the target hemoglobins in transfusion dependent MDS patients are too low and this may account for their inferior quality of life. Our goal is to compare the effect on QOL of a restrictive strategy (which is the current standard of care), with a liberal transfusion strategy in a large randomized controlled trial of transfusion dependent MDS outpatients. Before embarking on such an endeavor, the investigators must first prove feasibility in a smaller pilot randomized controlled trial.

In order to improve the overall survival benefit observed with AZA in higher risk MDS, its combination with other active drugs in MDS must be tested. Among drugs that have demonstrated to be active as a single agent in MDS and have preclinical potential additive or synergistic activity with AZA are Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors including Valproic acid, Lenalidomide and idarubicin. Phase I studies have already been conducted or are being conducted combining those agents to demethylating agents, showing a low toxicity profile and significant responses in high risk MDS. In this phase II randomized trial, we want to identify the most promising combination of Azacitidine and another drug (among 3 drugs: Valproic acid, Lenalidomide and Idarubicin) in higher risk MDS, by comparison to Azacitidine alone. Of note, based on efficacy and toxicity, one or several combinations may be stopped, and others, previously tested in phase I trials, included after protocol amendment.

The purpose of this study is to assess the response rate at 6 months in Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) patients, Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukaemia (CMML-2) patients, and Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) patients with up to 30% bone marrow blasts, treated with low-dose decitabine who have previously failed therapy with 5-azacitidine.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining chemotherapy with peripheral stem cell transplantation may allow the doctor to give higher doses of chemotherapy drugs and kill more cancer cells. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of peripheral stem cell transplantation with high-dose cytarabine in treating patients with myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myelogenous leukemia.

RATIONALE: Studying blood samples from cancer patients undergoing pain treatment in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about how pain drugs work in the body. It may also help doctors predict how patients will respond to treatment. PURPOSE: This research study is looking at fentanyl in patients with cancer.

We are evaluating the efficacy of the association of Low dose Cytarabine in association with Bortezomib in the treatment of patients diagnosed with high risk Myelodysplastic syndromes. Our aim is to decrease transfusion requirements and if possible induce a complete or at least a partial remission.

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a rare, potentially serious bone marrow disease. Currently available treatments for MDS have been only somewhat beneficial. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of the medication antithymocyte globulin (ATG) in adults with MDS and to determine which individuals with MDS are most likely to benefit from treatment with ATG.

The purpose of this study is To evaluate the efficacy of association of Erythropoetin (Neorecormon) and ATRA in patients with low risk myelodysplastic syndromes To evaluate the tolerance of this treatment

The purpose of this study is to determine if AR-67 is effective in the treatment for patients with MDS.