Active clinical trials for "Leukemia"

RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies, such as rituximab, 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 pentostatin and cyclophosphamide, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Lenalidomide may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Giving rituximab together with combination chemotherapy and lenalidomide may kill more cancer cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving rituximab together with pentostatin, cyclophosphamide, and lenalidomide works in treating patients with previously untreated B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma.

RATIONALE: Giving chemotherapy before a donor stem cell transplant helps stop the growth of cancer or abnormal cells. It also 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 cyclosporine and methotrexate before and after transplant may stop this from happening. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying the side effects and how well donor stem cell transplant works when given after conditioning therapy in treating patients with hematologic cancer, recurrent or metastatic solid tumor, or other disease.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy 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, 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. Giving combination chemotherapy together with gemtuzumab may kill more cancer cells. It is not yet known whether combination chemotherapy is more effective with or without gemtuzumab in treating patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying combination chemotherapy and gemtuzumab to see how well they work compared with combination chemotherapy alone in treating young patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia.

In this study, MGCD0103, a new anticancer drug under investigation, is given twice weekly to patients with leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes.

RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies, such as rituximab, can block cancer growth in different ways. Some find cancer cells and kill them or carry cancer-killing substances to them. Others interfere with the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Giving rituximab before chemotherapy may be an effective treatment for B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well rituximab works in treating young patients who are planning to receive chemotherapy for B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Clofarabine (injection) is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of pediatric patients 1 to 21 years old with relapsed acute or refractory lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who have had at least 2 prior treatment regimens. There is no recommended standard treatment for relapsed or refractory acute myelogenous leukemia in older patients. Cytarabine is the most commonly used drug to treat these patients. This study will determine if there is benefit by combining clofarabine with cytarabine. Patients will be randomized to receive up to 3 cycles of treatment with either placebo in combination with cytarabine or clofarabine in combination with cytarabine. Randomization was stratified by remission status following the first induction regimen (no remission [i.e., CR1 = refractory] or remission <6 months vs CR1 = remission ≥6 months). CR1 is defined as remission after first pre-study induction regimen. The safety and tolerability of clofarabine in combination with cytarabine and cytarabine alone will be monitored throughout the study.

BCX-1777 may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking the enzymes necessary for their growth. The Phase II trial is designed to study the effectiveness of BCX-1777 in treating patients who have recurrent or refractory advanced T-cell leukemia. Patients will receive an infusion of BCX-1777 on days 1-5. Treatment may be repeated every week for up to six courses. Patients are not required to be hospitalized for the administration of BCX-1777. Some patients may continue to receive an infusion of BCX-1777 twice a week for 6 weeks.

RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies such as gemtuzumab ozogamicin can locate cancer cells and either kill them or deliver cancer-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. Cyclosporine may increase the effectiveness of gemtuzumab ozogamicin by making cancer cells more sensitive to the drug. Combining gemtuzumab ozogamicin with cyclosporine may kill more cancer cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving gemtuzumab ozogamicin together with cyclosporine works in treating older patients with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia.

This phase II trial is studying how well giving alemtuzumab with or without methotrexate and mercaptopurine works in treating young patients with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Monoclonal antibodies such as alemtuzumab can locate cancer cells and either kill them or deliver cancer-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as methotrexate and mercaptopurine, work in different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining monoclonal antibody therapy with chemotherapy may kill more cancer cells.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as fludarabine, work in different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Biological therapies such as thalidomide use different ways to stimulate the immune system and stop cancer cells from growing. Combining fludarabine with thalidomide may kill more cancer cells. PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects and best dose of thalidomide when given together with fludarabine and to see how well they work in treating patients with newly diagnosed B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.