Active clinical trials for "Preleukemia"

This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of 7-hydroxystaurosporine when given together with perifosine in treating patients with relapsed or refractory acute leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, or myelodysplastic syndromes. 7-Hydroxystaurosporine may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as perifosine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving 7-hydroxystaurosporine together with perifosine may kill more cancer cells.

RATIONALE: Giving total-body irradiation and chemotherapy, such as cyclophosphamide, before a donor stem cell transplant helps stop the patient's immune system from rejecting the donor's stem cells and helps stop the growth of cancer or abnormal 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 immunosuppressive therapy before or after transplant may stop this from happening. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving total-body irradiation together with cyclophosphamide works in treating patients who are undergoing donor stem cell transplant for hematologic cancer and other diseases.

This phase I multicenter feasibility trial is studying the safety and potential efficacy of infusing ex vivo expanded cord blood progenitors with one unmanipulated umbilical cord blood unit for transplantation following conditioning with fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation (TBI), and immunosuppression with cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) for patients with hematologic malignancies. Chemotherapy, such as fludarabine and cyclophosphamide, and TBI given before an umbilical cord blood transplant stops the growth of leukemia cells and works to prevent the patient's immune system from rejecting the donor's stem cells. The healthy stem cells from the donor's umbilical cord blood help the patient's bone marrow make new red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. It may take several weeks for these new blood cells to grow. During that period of time, patients are at increased risk for bleeding and infection. Faster recovery of white blood cells may decrease the number and severity of infections. Studies have shown that counts are more likely to recover more quickly if increased numbers of cord blood cells are given with the transplant. We have developed a way of growing or "expanding" the number of cord blood cells in the lab so that there are more cells available for transplant. We are doing this study to find out whether or not giving these expanded cells along with one unexpanded cord blood unit is safe and if use of expanded cells can decrease the time it takes for white blood cells to recover after transplant. We will study the time it takes for blood counts to recover, which of the two cord blood units makes up the patient's new blood system, and how quickly immune system cells return

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.

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.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as VNP40101M and cytarabine, use different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining more than one drug may kill more cancer cells. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of combining VNP40101M with cytarabine in treating patients who have hematologic malignancies, including myelodysplastic syndrome or relapsed, refractory, or untreated leukemia.

The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of 13 weeks of darbepoetin alfa treatment on erythroid response in anemic subjects with low risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS).

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.