OBJECTIVES:~I. Determine the maximum tolerated dose of GTI-2040 in patients with relapsed, refractory, or high-risk acute leukemia, high-grade myelodysplastic syndromes, or refractory or blastic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia.~II. Assess the toxicity and efficacy of this drug in these patients. III. Assess plasma and intracellular pharmacokinetics of this drug in these patients.~OUTLINE: This is a multicenter, dose-escalation study.~Patients receive GTI-2040 IV continuously on days 1-4 and 15-18. Treatment repeats every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.~Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of GTI-2040 until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity.~Blood samples are collected on days 1, 4, 15, and 19 of course 1 for pharmacokinetic studies. Samples are analyzed by proteomic assay, dCTP pool measurement, and real-time polymerase chain reaction for mRNA of RRM2, RRM1, and p53R2.
This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of GTI-2040 in treating patients with relapsed, refractory, or high-risk acute leukemia, high-grade myelodysplastic syndromes, or refractory or blastic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as GTI-2040, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer or abnormal cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing.