Arsenic Trioxide for Induction Therapy of Adult Patients With Leukemia

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Diagnosis of one of the following:
• * Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
• * Philadelphia chromosome (Bcr-abl) positive
• * Refractory to initial therapy OR recurrent following 1 induction therapy regimen with or without consolidation therapy and/or bone marrow transplantation
• * Blastic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia
• * Philadelphia chromosome (Bcr-abl) positive
• * Previously untreated OR recurrent or refractory following 1 induction therapy regimen with or without consolidation therapy including imatinib mesylate
• Must not be eligible for bone marrow transplant
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• At least 8 weeks
• Hematopoietic:
• Not specified
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST/ALT no greater than 2 times ULN
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 2.0 times ULN
• Creatinine clearance greater than 70 mL/min
• Cardiovascular:
• No uncontrolled angina
• No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease
• No second degree heart block without pacemaker
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after study
• HIV negative
• No uncontrolled infection or other serious concurrent illness
• No peripheral neuropathy
• No potassium less than 3.0 or greater than 5.5 mEq/L that can not be corrected OR
• No magnesium less than 1.2 or greater than 2.5 mEq/L that can not be corrected
• Electrolyte imbalances must be corrected prior to study entry
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Chemotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 28 days since prior chemotherapy
• At least 24 hours since prior hydroxyurea
• No prior arsenic trioxide
• No other concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy except intrathecal chemotherapy for CNS leukemia
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• At least 28 days since prior radiotherapy
• No concurrent radiotherapy including for palliation
• Surgery:
• Not specified
• Other:
• At least 14 days since prior imatinib mesylate
• No other concurrent investigational agents
• No concurrent amphotericin B