3-AP and Fludarabine in Treating Patients With Myeloproliferative Disorders, Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia, or Accelerated Phase or Blastic Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

You may be eligible if

• Criteria:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Histopathologically confirmed diagnosis of 1 of the following:
• * Myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs) in aggressive phase or transformation
• * CML in accelerated phase or blast crisis
• * Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia in aggressive phase (5-19% bone marrow blasts) or transformation (\> 20% bone marrow blasts)
• Myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs) in aggressive phase or transformation, including the following:
• * Polycythemia vera (PV)
• * Essential thrombocythemia (ET)
• * Myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia
• * Hypereosinophilic syndrome
• * Atypical (Philadelphia chromosome negative) chronic myelogenous leukemia (Ph- CML)
• Patients with aggressive phase MPD (PV, ET, or Ph- CML) must meet ≥ 1 of the following criteria:
• * Marrow blasts \> 5%
• * Peripheral blood blasts plus progranulocytes \> 10%
• * New onset or increasing myelofibrosis
• * New onset or \> 25% increase in hepatomegaly or splenomegaly
• * New onset constitutional symptoms (fever, weight loss, splenic pain, bone pain)
• Multilineage bone marrow failure
• Ineligible for established curative regimens, including stem cell transplantation
• ECOG performance status 0-2
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No chronic toxicity from prior chemotherapy \> grade 1
• No history of severe coronary artery disease
• Creatinine normal OR creatinine clearance \>= 60 mL/min
• AST and ALT =\< 2.5 times normal
• Bilirubin =\< 2.0 mg/dL unless due to leukemia, Gilbert's syndrome, or hemolysis
• No arrhythmias (other than atrial flutter or fibrillation) requiring medication
• No uncontrolled congestive heart failure
• No dyspnea at rest or with minimal exertion
• No severe pulmonary disease requiring supplemental oxygen
• No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to 3-AP (Triapine®) and/or fludarabine phosphate
• No other life-threatening illness
• No history of mental deficits and/or psychiatric illness that would preclude study compliance
• No more than 4 prior induction regimens (3 cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens)
• At least 3 weeks since prior myelosuppressive cytotoxic agents (6 weeks for mitomycin C or nitrosoureas) and recovered
• At least 1 week since prior nonmyelosuppressive treatment
• At least 48 hours since prior noncytotoxic agents for peripheral blood leukemic cell count control, including but not limited to the following:
• * Hydroxyurea
• * Imatinib mesylate
• * Interferon
• * Mercaptopurine
• * Cyclophosphamide
• At least 2 weeks since prior and no concurrent radiotherapy to treat cancer
• At least 1 week since prior biologic therapy, including hematopoietic growth factors (e.g., epoetin alfa, darbepoetin alfa, filgrastim \[G-CSF\], sargramostim \[GM-CSF\], interleukin-3, or interleukin-11)
• No other concurrent chemotherapy to treat cancer
• No concurrent immunotherapy to treat cancer
• No known glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase \[G6PD) deficiency (G6PD screening required for high-risk groups (i.e., patients of African, Asian, or Mediterranean origin/ancestry)\]
• No active heart disease
• No concurrent myeloid growth factors
• No active uncontrolled infection (Infections under active treatment and controlled with antibiotics are allowed)
• No chronic hepatitis