VNP40101M and Cytarabine in Treating Patients With Hematologic Malignancies

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) meeting criteria for 1 of the following:

  • Relapsed or refractory leukemia for which there is no standard therapy anticipated to result in a durable remission

    • Acute myeloid leukemia
    • Acute lymphocytic leukemia

    • Chronic myelogenous leukemia

      • In blast crisis
  • Untreated leukemia and standard therapy is refused

  • Any of the following poor-risk MDS:

    • Refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB)
    • RAEB in transformation
    • Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
• CNS leukemia allowed

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• Not specified

Hepatic

• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• ALT or AST no greater than 3 times ULN
• Chronic hepatitis allowed

Renal

• Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

• No active heart disease
• No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months
• No symptomatic coronary artery disease
• No arrhythmias uncontrolled by medication
• No uncontrolled congestive heart failure

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No persistent chronic toxic effects from prior chemotherapy greater than grade 1

• No uncontrolled active infection

  • Infections under control and under active treatment with antibiotics allowed

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• At least 48 hours since prior hydroxyurea

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• Not specified

Surgery

• Not specified

Other

• At least 2 weeks since prior myelosuppressive cytotoxic agents (in the absence of rapidly progressing disease)
• No other concurrent standard or investigational treatment for leukemia
• No concurrent disulfiram