Active clinical trials for "Leukemia"

The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if the combination of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, rituximab, and bevacizumab is effective in treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia in patients who have already been treated with chemotherapy. The safety of this treatment will also be studied.

RATIONALE: Giving chemotherapy, such as fludarabine and busulfan, before a donor peripheral 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 a monoclonal antibody, alemtuzumab, before the transplant and tacrolimus after the transplant may stop this from happening. PURPOSE: The phase I portion of this trial identified the maximum tolerated dose of busulfan after treating 40 patients on a dose-escalation scheme. We are now treating an additional 26 patients on the phase II portion of the trial at a Pharmacokinetic (PK)-directed dose of total area under curve (AUC) 6912 micrometer (uM)-min/24 hours. We transitioned to the Phase II portion of the study in October 2009.

The purpose of this research study is to see if Dasatinib is effective and safe to give to people with relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and to determine the effects of the drug on LYN kinase activity in blood and bone marrow. Recent research shows that a key enzyme in CLL cells is responsible for cell survival. This enzyme is called LYN kinase. Laboratory studies show that inhibition of LYN kinase in CLL cells results in the death to CLL cells. Dasatinib has the ability to inhibit LYN kinase and, therefore, should have some effect on CLL cells.

This study will determine the safety and effectiveness of an experimental vaccine in controlling the abnormal growth of cells in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS, also known as myelodysplasia), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). It will test whether the vaccine can increase the number of immune cells responding to the cancer and thereby slow progression of the illness, improve blood counts, reduce the need for transfusions of blood and platelets, or even achieve a disease remission. The vaccine contains part of a protein that is produced in large amounts by cells of patients with these cancers and an added substance called Montanide that helps the immune system respond to the vaccine. Sargramostim, another substances that boosts the immune response, is also given. Patients 18 to 85 years of age with MDS, AML, ALL or CML may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with a medical history, physical examination, blood tests, chest x-ray and bone marrow biopsy. Women of childbearing age also have a pregnancy test. Participants undergo the following: Chemotherapy entering the study. Leukapheresis to collect large amounts of white blood cells for infusion before vaccine administration. Participants may need placement of a central line (plastic tube, or catheter) in the upper part of the chest to be used for giving chemotherapy, blood or platelet transfusions, antibiotics and white blood cells, and for collecting blood samples. Weekly vaccine injections for nine weeks, given in the upper arm, upper leg or abdomen. Sargramostim injections following each vaccination. Standard of care treatment for MDS, AML, ALL or CML, which may include blood or platelet transfusions, growth factors, and drugs to control underlying disease and potential side effects of the vaccine. Weekly safety monitoring, including vital signs check, brief health assessment, blood tests and observation after the vaccination, on the day of each vaccination. Follow-up evaluations with blood tests and chest x-ray 3 weeks after the last vaccine dose and with blood tests and bone marrow biopsy 7 weeks after the last vaccine dose.

Primary Objective: To determine the progression free survival (PFS) of the preparative regimen rituximab, etoposide and total body irradiation (TBI), in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT). Secondary Objectives: To determine the effect of rituximab on the incidence of acute graft vs. host disease (GVHD). To determine the efficacy of adding imatinib mesylate post transplant in ALL patients with the t(9;22)(q34;q11) cytogenetic abnormality. To estimate the probability of molecular complete remission at one year for the described treatment approach as determined by serial minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring. To determine the rate of GVHD, engraftment, toxicity, and overall survival (OS) for this treatment regimen.

The goal of this clinical research study is to find the best dose of clofarabine and fludarabine that can be given with busulfan followed by an allogeneic blood stem cell transplant. Researchers will study whether this combination can help to control the disease, and look at the safety of this combination. Researchers also want to find out if combining busulfan with clofarabine alone or combining busulfan with both fludarabine and clofarabine will improve the treatment, compared with the previous standard method using busulfan and fludarabine alone.

The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy and safety of transplanting StemEx® in patients with certain hematological malignancies. For these patients, it is suggested that StemEx® can improve upon the outcome of transplanting a single, unmanipulated cord blood unit by significantly increasing the number of stem/progenitor cells available to the patient.

RATIONALE: Lestaurtinib may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cytarabine and idarubicin, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving lestaurtinib together with cytarabine and idarubicin may kill more cancer cells. PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects and best dose of lestaurtinib when given together with cytarabine and idarubicin and to see how well they work in treating younger patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia.

The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if the combination of Gleevec (imatinib mesylate) and low doses of Cytarabine (ara-C) may help to control leukemia while causing fewer side effects than standard high dose chemotherapy.

RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies, such as alemtuzumab, 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. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying the side effects and how well alemtuzumab works in treating patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia in partial remission or complete remission.