Active clinical trials for "Leukemia"

Cord blood transplantation (CBT) is an alternative option for patients with pediatric acute leukemia that indicated stem cell transplantation. Although CBT is as affective as unrelated bone marrow transplantation with lower graft versus host disease (GVHD) severity and incidence, transplantation related mortality (TRM) has been major problems after myeloablative conditioning. To reduce TRM, CBT with non-myeloablative conditionings have been performed but not so satisfactory especially for engraftment rate. Recently reduced toxicity myeloablative conditioning regimen was developed with promising result in adult bone marrow or mobilized peripheral blood transplantation. To increase the engraftment potential with low TRM rate, reduced toxicity myeloablative conditioning composed of fludarabine, intravenous busulfan plus thymoglobulin is planned for pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Dendritic cell therapy is a promising strategy for adjuvant cancer therapy in the setting of minimal residual disease (MRD) to fight off cancer relapse and/or progression. The investigators already performed a phase I safety study in leukemia patients that were in complete remission demonstrating the absence of side effects and feasibility of the therapy. Here, the investigators want to extend on this strategy by studying the clinical efficacy of autologous DC vaccination in patients with acute and chronic myeloid leukemia and myeloma patients. Effects of DC therapy on the immune reactivity towards leukemia cells as well as clinical parameters such molecular MRD monitoring, time to relapse (TTR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival(OS) will be studied in vaccinated and non-vaccinated (control) patients. Patients will be vaccinated using their own dendritic cells electroporated with mRNA coding for the full-length Wilms' tumor antigen WT1.

Summary Acute promyelocytic leukemia is defined by a characteristic morphology (AML FAB M3/M3v), by the specific translocation t(15;17) and its molecular correlates (PML/RARa and RARa/PML). Thereby it can be separated from all other forms of acute leukemia. By all-trans retinoic acid in combination with chemotherapy cure rates of 70 to 80% can be reached. On average, about 10% of patients still die in the early phase of the treatment and about 20 to 30% relapse. Molecular monitoring of the minimal residual disease (MRD) by qualitative nested RT-PCR and quantitative REAL-time PCR of PML/RARa allows to follow the individual kinetics of MRD and to identify patients with an imminent hematological relapse. A standardized treatment for patients with relapsed APL has not yet been established. With arsenic trioxide (ATO) monotherapy remission rates over 80% were achieved and long-lasting molecular remissions are described. The drug was mostly well tolerated. ATO exerts a dose dependent dual effect on APL blasts, apoptosis in higher and partial differentiation in lower concentrations. ATO was also successfully administered before allogeneic and autologous transplantation. ATO is approved for the treatment of relapsed and refractory APL in Europe and in the USA. In the present protocol, ATO is given for remission induction: in patients with hematological or molecular first or subsequent relapse of APL and in patients who do not reach a hematological or molecular remission after first line therapy. Induction therapy with ATO is the mandatory part of the protocol. After remission induction, there are several options for postremission therapy. Factors which have influence on the treatment decision in the individual case are: the eligibility for allogeneic transplantation the eligibility for autologous transplantation the presence or absence of contraindications against intensive chemotherapy the PCR status after induction and during follow up (RT-PCR of PML/RARa, sensitivity 10-4) A mandatory form of post-remission therapy is not defined in the protocol. Data and outcomes of any post-remission therapy should be documented in order to collect data of treatment after ATO. The following stratification of post-remission therapy can be performed according to the decision of the treating physician: Patients with a HLA-compatible donor who are suitable for allogeneic stem cell transplantation should be transplanted. In patients with a positive PCR one cycle of intensive chemotherapy (HAM) before transplantation should be considered and patients with a negative result are immediately transplanted without preceding chemotherapy. In patients who do not qualify for allogeneic, but for autologous transplantation, the intensity of the chemotherapy (Ara-C dose of the HAM cycle) is scheduled according to the PCR status after ATO and to the patient's age. In patients under 60 years, the recommended single Ara-C dose is scheduled to 3 g/m² in case of a positive PCR result and to 1 g/m² in case of a negative PCR result after ATO. In all patients aged over 60 years, the Ara-C dose should be uniformly reduced to 1 g/m² independent of the PCR status. Patients who are not eligible for allogeneic or autologous transplantation (too old, no stem cells collected, PCR positive stem cell transplant, contraindications against intensive chemotherapy) receive three further cycles with ATO and ATRA. The group of patients not qualifying for autologous transplantation, but without contraindications against intensive chemotherapy should receive an age adapted HAM, whenever a positive PCR persists or reappears after the three maintenance cycles of ATO. A close monitoring of the PCR of PML/RARa after each treatment cycle is part of the protocol. The main objective of the protocol is to take advantage of the expected low toxicity of ATO and to keep the part of chemotherapy as low as possible.

The purpose of this study is to determine the correct dose for intramuscular administration to compare the frequency of antibody formation after intramuscular administration of native E.coli asparaginase and PEG-asparaginase during two treatment courses in the treatment of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia

This randomized phase II/III trial investigates the antileukemic activity and toxicity of the FLAG-Ida regimen as a second induction course in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia and bad response to the first induction cycle and/or with a high risk karyotype and compares the antileukemic activity and toxicity of high dose cytarabine/daunorubicin vs. autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation as late consolidation therapy in standard risk patients.

A randomised trial for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, using the detection of minimal residual disease to define risk groups, aiming to answer the questions: Can treatment be reduced without compromising efficacy in a MRD-defined low risk group? Does further post-remission intensification improve outcome for a MRD-defined high risk group? Measure the Quality of Life impact of the different treatment arms on the children and their families.

RATIONALE: BMS-354825 and imatinib mesylate may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying BMS-354825 to see how well it works compared to imatinib mesylate in treating patients with chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia that did not respond to previous imatinib mesylate.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining chemotherapy with peripheral stem cell transplantation may allow the doctor to give higher doses of chemotherapy drugs and kill more cancer cells. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of idarubicin plus peripheral stem cell transplantation using the patient's own or donated stem cells in treating patients with leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome.

RATIONALE: Interferon alfa may interfere with the growth of cancer cells. Low doses of interferon alfa may be as effective as high doses. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of low-dose or high-dose interferon alfa in treating patients who have newly diagnosed chronic myelogenous leukemia.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy 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 II/III trial to study the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy in treating children with relapsed acute lymphocytic leukemia.