Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Young Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Leukemia

OBJECTIVES: * Determine the maximum tolerated dose of clofarabine when administered in combination with topotecan hydrochloride, vinorelbine ditartrate, thiotepa, and dexamethasone in young patients with relapsed or refractory acute leukemia. * Evaluate the antileukemic potential of this regimen in these patients. * Evaluate the incidence and severity of treatment-related morbidity and mortality in patients treated with this regimen. * Develop a new reinduction treatment regimen that will result in a patient clinical response with as little residual disease as possible to permit a bone marrow transplantation while in subsequent remission; maintain the response long enough to identify an appropriate stem cell donor; and permit the patient to undergo a stem cell transplantation free of infections and without vital organ dysfunction. OUTLINE: This is a nonrandomized, prospective, dose-escalation study of clofarabine. Patients receive topotecan hydrochloride IV continuously over 120 hours on days 0-4; vinorelbine ditartrate over 6-10 minutes on days 0, 7, and 14; thiotepa IV over 4 hours on day 2; clofarabine IV over 2 hours on days 3-7; and oral or IV dexamethasone 3 times daily on days 3 and 7-13 and then on day 3 only thereafter. Patients also receive filgrastim (G-CSF) subcutaneously once daily beginning on day 8 and continuing until blood counts recover. Treatment repeats every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of clofarabine until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose at which 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity OR the dose preceding that at which 2 of 3 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. At least 6 patients are treated at the MTD. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed once a week for 4 weeks, twice a month for 6 months, and then once a month for 2 years. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 23 patients will be accrued for this study.