Imatinib Mesylate in Treating Patients With Myelofibrosis

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Diagnosis of myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM), defined by all of the following:
• * Leukoerythroblastic blood picture
• * Fibrosis involving \> 1/3 sectional area of bone marrow biopsy
• * Splenomegaly (unless patient has undergone prior splenectomy)
• * Philadelphia chromosome negative
• * No myelodysplastic syndrome
• * No systemic disorders associated with marrow fibrosis
• Red blood cell transfusion dependent, defined by 1 of the following:
• * Patient has required ≥ 2 units of red blood cells every 4 weeks within the past 8 weeks
• * Hemoglobin ≤ 8 g/dL on ≥ 3 occasions (≥ 2 weeks apart ) over the past 8 weeks
• No evidence of disease transformation to acute myelogenous leukemia, defined as \> 20% blasts in bone marrow and/or peripheral blood
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Performance status
• ECOG 0-3
• Life expectancy
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic
• Absolute neutrophil count \> 1,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count \> 50,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic
• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST or ALT ≤ 2 times ULN (unless due to extramedullary hematopoiesis in the liver)
• Renal
• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN
• Cardiovascular
• No New York Heart Association grade III-IV heart disease
• Other
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective barrier method contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study treatment
• No serious, uncontrolled medical condition
• No patients who are considered potentially unreliable or with a history of noncompliance to medical regimens
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• More than 2 weeks since prior interferon alfa
• Chemotherapy
• No concurrent chemotherapy except hydroxyurea to control elevated blood counts
• Endocrine therapy
• More than 4 weeks since prior corticosteroids, danazol, or other androgens for MMM
• Other
• More than 4 weeks since other prior treatment for MMM
• No other concurrent experimental drug therapy for MMM