OBJECTIVES:~I. Determine the maximum tolerated dose for 6-hydroxymethylacylfulvene in patients with refractory myelodysplastic syndrome, acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, or blastic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia.~II. Determine the qualitative and quantitative toxicities of this treatment in these patients.~III. Determine the duration and reversibility of the qualitative and quantitative toxicities of this treatment in these patients.~IV. Evaluate, in a preliminary manner, the antileukemic activity of this treatment in these patients.~V. Assess relative mRNA levels of selected NER genes (ERCC1, ERCC2, and ERCC3) in tumor tissues of patients treated with this regimen and correlate with clinical outcome.~OUTLINE: This is a dose escalation study.~Patients receive 6-hydroxymethylacylfulvene (HMAF) IV over 5 minutes on days 1-5. Treatment repeats every 3-4 weeks for at least 2 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Cohorts of 3 patients receive escalating doses of HMAF. The maximum tolerated dose is defined as the dose at which dose limiting toxicity occurs in at least 40% of patients.~Patients are followed every 3 months for 1 year and then every 6 months thereafter.
Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of 6-hydroxymethylacylfulvene in treating patients who have refractory myelodysplastic syndrome, acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, or blastic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia. Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die.