Fludarabine Phosphate, Cytarabine, Filgrastim-sndz, Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin, and Idarubicin Hydrochloride in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia or High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Evaluate the safety of a regimen incorporating fludarabine phosphate (fludarabine), high-dose cytarabine, filgrastim-sndz, gemtuzumab ozogamicin and idarubicin hydrochloride (idarubicin) in patients with untreated inv(16) or t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

II. Evaluate the complete remission rates achieved in this population with this regimen.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Assess the proportion of patients with untreated inv(16) or t(8;21) AML who, having entered complete remission (CR) on this regimen, remain alive in CR two years from CR date.

II. Assess whether the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) results can be used in detecting relapse in these patients.

OUTLINE:

REMISSION INDUCTION: Patients receive filgrastim-sndz subcutaneously (SC) once daily (QD) beginning on day -1 and continuing until blood count recovery. Patients also receive fludarabine phosphate intravenously (IV) over 30 minutes on days 1-5, cytarabine IV over 4 hours on days 1-5, gemtuzumab ozogamicin IV over 2 hours on day 1. Patients not in remission after their first induction therapy may repeat remission induction therapy.

POST-REMISSION THERAPY: Patients receive filgrastim-sndz SC on day -1, fludarabine phosphate IV over 30 minutes on days 1-3, cytarabine IV over 4 hours on days 1-3, gemtuzumab ozogamicin IV over 2 hours on day 1 of courses 1 or 2 and 5 or 6, and idarubicin hydrochloride IV over 30 minutes on days 2 and 3 of one post-remission course (post-remission courses 3 or 4) determined by the treating physician after discussion with the PI if suboptimal qPCR response (qPCR > 0.01 after post-remission cycle 2 or 3). Treatment repeats every 4-6 weeks for up to 6 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

FURTHER MODIFICATION OF POST-REMISSION THERAPY: Patients older than 60, with significant comorbidities, experiencing life-threatening complications, prolonged cytopenias, or not achieving complete molecular response may receive decitabine IV over 1 hour daily for 5 days after discussion with the principal investigator. Treatment repeats every 4-6 weeks for up to 12 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 6 months for 2 years.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients must have untreated AML, or high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) (refractory anemia with excess blasts, [RAEB], or RAEB "in transformation" [RAEB-t]) characterized by t(8;21), inv(16), or t(16;16); the presence of additional abnormalities is irrelevant
• Patients must provide written consent
• Participants will not be excluded based on performance status; for patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status >= to 3 the dosing schedule will be discussed with study chairman
• Patients with organ dysfunction will not be excluded from the study; for patients with evidence of organ dysfunction (creatinine >= 1.5, cardiac ejection fraction =< 50%, total bilirubin >=2 and aspartate aminotransferase [AST]/alanine aminotransferase [ALT] >= 3 times upper limit of normal [ULN]), dose adjustments/omissions will be made
• Up to one cycle of prior induction therapy will be permitted to include patients in whom presence of "good-risk" cytogenetics was initially missed; if the patient is in remission from induction therapy, he/she will receive post-remission therapy; if the patient is not in remission then he/she will receive induction therapy
• Patients of child bearing potential should practice effective methods of contraception

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant and lactating females will be excluded