Active clinical trials for "Myelodysplastic Syndromes"

Lenalidomide has shown significant efficacy in the treatment of anemia associated with both 5q- and non 5q- MDS patients. The mechanism(s) of action of lenalidomide in MDS is still to be determined, but given the differences in response rates seen, it is probable that the mechanism is different for patients with 5q- disease compared to non 5q- patients. T-cell mediated activation of intramedullary apoptosis in patients with early MDS leading to impaired hematopoiesis has been well described. Immunomodulation with agents such as ATG, cyclosporine and thalidomide have demonstrated clear activity in some patients with MDS. Lenalidomide, among its many effects, is a potent immunomodulator, which may contribute to its ability to improve red blood cell counts in patients with MDS. It is possible that this effect could be augmented with the addition of cyclosporine A (CSA), in a similar manner to CSA effects in patients with other bone marrow failure syndromes such as aplastic anemia. Subjects will be treated with lenalidomide 10 mg PO daily days 1-28 of a 28-day cycle. Cyclosporine A will be started on day 1 of cycle 2 (day 29) at a dose of 5 mg/kg per day given orally in 2 divided doses. Cyclosporine A levels will be assessed weekly and doses will be adjusted to maintain a serum trough level between 100-450 mg/ml. Patients will continue on therapy for minimum of 16 weeks unless toxicity occurs which precludes continuation on therapy, disease progression and/or patient withdrawal of consent. Patients not achieving response after completing 16 weeks of therapy will discontinue treatment. Patients achieving response will continue therapy until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity or loss of response.

This is a Phase II, open-label, non-randomized study in patients with low, intermediate-1, intermediate-2, or high-risk MDS (defined by IPSS). Each cycle of treatment will be 6 weeks in length. Patients will be evaluated every 6 weeks for response. Patients will be treated for a minimum of 12 weeks even in the absence of response. Following 12 weeks of treatment, patients will continue to receive study treatment until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

RATIONALE: Giving chemotherapy drugs and total-body irradiation before a donor bone marrow 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 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. Giving colony-stimulating factors, such as G-CSF, to the donor helps the stem cells move from the bone marrow to the blood so they can be collected and stored. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying how well a G-CSF-treated donor bone marrow transplant works in treating patients with hematologic cancer or noncancer.

RATIONALE: Giving low doses of chemotherapy, such as fludarabine and cyclophosphamide, and radiation therapy before a donor umbilical cord 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 cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil after transplant may stop this from happening. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying how well giving fludarabine and cyclophosphamide together with total-body irradiation followed by cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil works in treating patients who are undergoing a donor umbilical cord blood transplant for hematologic cancer.

To assess the proportion of patients with donor neutrophil engraftment within 30 days of allogeneic transplant. To assess the incidence of acute GvHD during the first 100 days after transplantation.

This is an open-label, single-arm, multicentre, prospective study of darbepoetin alfa to treat anaemia in patients with low and intermediate-1 IPSS risk MDS. The study will consist of a 14-day screening period followed by a maximum 24-week treatment period and a final visit.

As part of a palliative therapy concept, feasibility, toxicity, and effectiveness of treatment with the combination of Valproic acid and lenalidomide in Myelodysplastic Syndrome patients with a favorable risk profile will be investigated.

RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies can block cancer growth in different ways. Some block the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Radioactive monoclonal antibodies, such as yttrium Y 90 monoclonal antibody, can find cancer cells and either kill them or carry cancer-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of a yttrium Y 90 monoclonal antibody and how much radiation is taken in by the organs in the body in treating patients with advanced leukemia or other hematologic disorder.

RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies, such as alemtuzumab, can find cancer cells and either kill them or deliver cancer-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. Giving chemotherapy drugs, such as busulfan and cyclophosphamide, before a donor stem cell transplant helps stop the growth of cancer 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 tacrolimus and methotrexate after the transplant may stop this from happening. PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the best dose of alemtuzumab when given together with busulfan and cyclophosphamide followed by a donor stem cell transplant and to see how well it works in treating patients with hematologic cancer.

RATIONALE: Giving chemotherapy and total-body irradiation before a donor umbilical cord blood 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 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 tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil before and after transplant may stop this from happening. PURPOSE: To look at the ability of umbilical cord blood cells from one or two unrelated donors to serve as a source of stem cells for people needing a bone marrow transplant.