Azacytidine and Valproic Acid in Patients With Advanced Cancers

Azacitidine is a new chemotherapy drug that is designed to destroy cancer cells at high doses. At low doses, it is designed to destroy some cancer cells as well as cause changes that may make cancer cells less harmful. Valproic acid is a drug that is used in every day practice in the treatment of seizures, migraine headache, and mood disturbance in bipolar disorders. Before you can start receiving the study drug, you will have what are called "screening tests." These tests will help the doctor decide if you are eligible to take part in the study. You will have a complete physical exam, including routine blood tests (about 4 teaspoons). You may have to get either a CT scan or a MRI to measure your disease if you have not had one within 1 month. Women who are able to have children must have a negative blood-pregnancy test. If you are found to be eligible to take part in this study, you will receive the study drug in "cycles." Cycles will generally be 4 weeks long but may be longer, depending on any side effects you experience from the azacitidine. During each cycle, you will receive azacitidine under the skin once each day for the first 10 days (Day 1 to Day 10). You will then have an 18-day break during which you will not receive azacitidine injections for the rest of the cycle. Additionally, you will take valproic acid pills by mouth, every day, starting the first day of the first cycle (Day 1 to Day 28). You will take valproic acid every day while on study without interruption. The dose of azacitidine that you receive will depend on when you enroll in this study. You will be part of a study group "cohort" (6 patients will be enrolled in each cohort). All members of a cohort receive the same dose of azacitidine when they begin receiving the study drug. Each new cohort will receive a higher dose than the cohort before. The dose of azacitidine that you receive may be adjusted depending on how well you tolerate it. The starting dose of valproic acid is fixed for all the patients, but this dose may be adjusted by your physician based on the results of your blood work. You will have a physical exam and blood tests (about 1 tablespoon each) every two weeks of the first two study drug cycles. For further cycles, you will have a physical exam and blood test only once a month. Your disease will be measured by CT scan or MRI after every 2 treatment cycles. You may continue to receive the study drug on this study until your disease gets worse or intolerable side effects occur. After your participation in this study is over, you will receive follow-up care, as is standard of care for your disease. This is an investigational study. The FDA has approved azacitidine for a blood disease known as myelodysplastic syndrome. Its use in this study is experimental. The valproic acid is a drug approved by the FDA for treatment of seizure, bipolar disorders, and migraine headaches. Up to 68 patients will take part in the study. All will be enrolled at M. D. Anderson.