Active clinical trials for "Leukemia"

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 find cancer cells and help kill them or carry cancer-killing substances to them. Others interfere with the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Gemtuzumab may also stop the growth of promyelocytic leukemia by blocking blood flow to the cancer. Giving gemtuzumab together with combination chemotherapy may be more effective in treating promyelocytic leukemia. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving gemtuzumab together with combination chemotherapy works in treating patients with previously untreated promyelocytic leukemia.

This single arm study will assess the efficacy and safety of rituximab in combination with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide, followed by rituximab maintenance therapy, as first line treatment of participants with CLL.

This is a continuation of a pilot study which is now regarded as a phase II trial with a plan to enroll an additional 40 patients (20 related and 20 unrelated donor transplants) with hematological malignancy assessing the safety and efficacy of a minimally myelosuppressive regimen with pentostatin and low-dose total body irradiation (TBI) followed by allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (alloPSCT).

A dose-escalation study to identify the dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) and maximum tolerated dose (MTD), defined as the highest dose that can safely be given to a participant and establish the safest dose based on the highest tolerated dose for clinical testing.

Open label multicenter, two-step, non-randomized (pilot) study to analyze the safety of 4 cycles of 3-day 40mg/m2 oral fludarabine with simultaneous thrice weekly application of 30mg alemtuzumab s.c. in patients with B-CLL disease in 1st and 2nd relapse after any primary treatment or with disease refractory to any therapy in 1st or 2nd line (including Fludarabine, ). This regimen is preceded by an escalation phase with 3-10-30 mg of alemtuzumab s.c. After the first phase (completed treatment of 7 patients) an interim analysis of safety and efficacy will be performed. In case of a sufficient risk benefit assessment followed by the enrollment of further 21 patients. Final analysis of safety and preliminary efficacy will be based on all patients enrolled.

This phase II trial studies how well tositumomab and iodine I 131 tositumomab works in treating patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) that have had their first decrease in or disappearance of signs and symptoms of cancer (first remission). Monoclonal antibodies, such as tositumomab and iodine I 131 tositumomab, may block cancer growth in different ways by targeting certain cells.

To compare the complete cytogenetic response rate in patients with newly-diagnosed chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukaemia treated with Glivec® alone or in combination with interferon at low doses

A phase I/II study to explore the feasibility and efficacy of autologous CIK cells in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML)/ high grade myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) Group 1: As adjuvant therapy in minimal residual disease state after autologous PBSCT. Group 2: As an adoptive immunotherapy in untreated disease state when conventional therapy with curative intent is not applicable

RATIONALE: Combinations of biological substances in DT388IL3 fusion protein may be able to carry cancer killing substances directly to the cancer cells. PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects and best dose of DT388IL3 fusion protein and to see how well it works in treating patients with acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes.

RATIONALE: L-asparaginase is an important component of treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, but is also associated with notable side-effects, including hypersensitivity, pancreatitis, and thrombosis. We have previously reported that patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in whom asparaginase treatment was discontinued because of intolerable side-effects had survival outcomes that were inferior to those who received all or nearly all of their intended doses. Two bacterial sources of asparaginase exist: Escherichia coli (E coli) and Erwinia chrysanthemia (Erwinia). Generally, the E coli-derived enzyme has been used as front-line therapy and the Erwinia-derived preparation has been reserved for patients who develop hypersensitivity reactions. Pegylated E coli asparaginase (PEG-asparaginase) has a longer half-life and is potentially less immunogenic than native E coli L-asparaginase, and has been used as the initial asparaginase preparation in some pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment regimens. PURPOSE: Although the pharmacokinetics of each of these asparaginase preparations: intravenous PEG-asparaginase (IV-PEG) and intramuscular native E coli L-asparaginase (IM-EC) have been well characterized, their relative efficacy and toxicity have not been studied extensively.