Oblimersen and Imatinib Mesylate in Treating Patients With Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To estimate the cytogenetic response rate of patients with CML who have had less than a complete hematologic response or less than major cytogenetic response to imatinib mesylate and who have been treated after two cycles of imatinib mesylate + G3139. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To estimate the hematologic, cytogenetic and molecular response rate and duration in patients diagnosed with CML who have been treated after two and four cycles of imatinib mesylate + G3139. II. To estimate the toxicity of these two drugs given in combination in a cooperative group setting. OUTLINE: Patients receive oblimersen IV continuously on days 1-10 and oral imatinib mesylate once or twice daily. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 4 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients without a hematologic response after 2 courses go off study. Patients with complete or partial response after 4 courses may continue to receive oral imatinib mesylate daily. Patients in cohort 2 receive an escalated dose of oblimersen; if well tolerated, subsequent cohorts receive oblimersen at the higher dose with the original dose of imatinib mesylate. If oblimersen is not well tolerated in cohort 2, subsequent cohorts receive the original dose of oblimersen with an escalated dose of imatinib mesylate. The first 6 patients accrued continue to receive the original dose (dose taken prior to study) of imatinib mesylate throughout the study. Patients are followed monthly for 3 months and then every 3 months for 5 years.