
S0919 Idarubicin, Cytarabine, and Pravastatin in Treating Patients With Relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukemia...
LeukemiaRATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as idarubicin and cytarabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Pravastatin may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Pravastatin may also help idarubicin and cytarabine work better by making cancer cells more sensitive to the drugs. Giving idarubicin and cytarabine together with pravastatin may kill more cancer cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving idarubicin and cytarabine together with pravastatin works in treating patients with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND: S0919 was initially designed for patients with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML), where the patient's preceding remission had lasted ≥ 3 months. The null response rate was 30%. The study closed to accrual on Nov 1, 2012 after meeting the defined criterion for a positive study; and the results are being submitted to the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting. Based on the promising results from this trial, the trial has now been amended to evaluate this therapeutic regimen in poor-risk patients (patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) arising out of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), primary refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with the patient's preceding remission lasting < 6 months).

Bevacizumab in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
B-cell Chronic Lymphocytic LeukemiaRefractory Chronic Lymphocytic LeukemiaThis phase II trial is studying how well bevacizumab works in treating patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Monoclonal antibodies, such as bevacizumab, 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. Bevacizumab may also stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking blood flow to the cancer.

Natural Killer (NK) Cell Transplantation for AML
Acute Myeloid LeukemiaThe purpose of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of infusing natural killer cells from a donor as treatment for patients with acute myeloid leukemia in remission or who have experienced relapse.

Study Evaluating SKI-606 (Bosutinib) In Philadelphia Chromosome Positive Leukemias
Chronic Myeloid LeukemiaThis is an open-label, continuous daily dosing, two-part safety and efficacy study of SKI-606 (bosutinib) in Philadelphia chromosome positive leukemias (Ph+). Part 1 is a dose-escalation study in chronic phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) subjects to establish the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in this subject population. Part 2 has begun after the completion of Part 1 and after a dose has been established for the compound in chronic phase subjects. Part 2 is a study of the the efficacy of 500mg daily oral SKI-606 (bosutinib) in patients with all phases of Ph+ CML and Ph+ Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). The protocol will test the hypotheses that oral daily dosing of bosutinib at 500 mg will attain (1) Major Cytogenetic Response (MCyR) in chronic phase CML patients and (2) Overall Hematological Response (OHR) in advanced leukemia patients. Each phase of the disease will be evaluated as a separate cohort.

Fludarabine or Chlorambucil as First-Line Therapy in Treating Older Patients With Previously Untreated...
Chronic Lymphocytic LeukemiaRATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as fludarabine and chlorambucil, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. It is not yet known whether fludarabine is more effective than chlorambucil in treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying fludarabine to see how well it works as first-line therapy compared to chlorambucil in treating older patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Early Allogeneic Blood Stem Cell Transplantation in High-risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Acute Myeloid LeukemiaKaryotype is a major prognostic risk factor in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) translating into unfavourable outcome in case of poor-risk cytogenetic aberrations. Several studies have shown that allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) after myeloablative conditioning rather than autologous HSCT or consolidation chemotherapy result in long-term disease control in this group of patients when achieving a first complete remission. Nevertheless, the complete remission rate achievable is significantly lower than in patients with a more favourable risk profile. In fact, only the minority of AML patients with poor-risk cytogenetics, although having a suitable donor, proceed to HSCT due to refractory disease or infectious complications during induction chemotherapy (IC). Further, new data show that the course of therapy can be estimated as early as two weeks after the initiation of the first course of IC with patients presenting with more than 10 % marrow blasts doing significantly worse than those with a better clearance of blasts. As a result, the chance to obtain a durable remission is considerably low and most patients with bad-risk cytogenetics or failure to achieve blast clearance do not proceed to an allogeneic approach. Together these data indicate that early treatment intensification is warranted in order to provide the potential curative benefit of allogeneic HSCT to the majority of high-risk AML patients. We have shown that reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) followed by allogeneic PBSC applied during aplasia after the first cycle of IC in newly-diagnosed high-risk AML patients is feasible and can result in a sustained disease control. These data prompted us to further evaluate in a prospective trial an early "up-front HSCT" in patients with newly-diagnosed high-risk AML defined by karyotype and insufficient blast clearance after the first cycle of IC. The goal was to provide an allogeneic HSCT as early as possible after diagnosis in AML patients.

Treosulfan and Fludarabine in Treating Younger Patients Who Are Undergoing a Donor Stem Cell Transplant...
LeukemiaMyelodysplastic SyndromesRATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as treosulfan and fludarabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving treosulfan and fludarabine together with a donor bone marrow transplant or a peripheral stem cell transplant may be an effective treatment for acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or myelodysplastic syndrome. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying giving treosulfan together with fludarabine to see how well it works in treating patients who are undergoing a donor stem cell transplant for acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or myelodysplastic syndrome.

Dasatinib as Therapy for Myeloproliferative Disorders (MPDs)
Acute Myeloid LeukemiaMyelodysplastic Syndromes8 moreThe goal of this clinical research study is to learn if dasatinib can help to control myeloproliferative disorders. The safety and tolerability of dasatinib will also be studied.

Multicenter Study of 9-Aminocamptothecin (9-AC) in Patients With Refractory Leukemia
LeukemiaMyelocytic2 moreThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the side effects of 9-Aminocamptothecin (9-AC) and to determine the best dose which should be used to treat leukemia.

Randomized Study of Decitabine in Maintenance Therapy of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Acute Myelogenous LeukemiaThe goal of this clinical study is to find out whether continued therapy with decitabine after achieving a remission in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients can help prolong the remission and prevent relapse of the disease.