sjg-136 in treating patients with relapsed or refractory acute leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, blastic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia, or chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Conditions: Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With 11q23 (MLL) Abnormalities; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Inv(16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(15;17)(q22;q12); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(16;16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(8;21)(q22;q22); Blastic Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; de Novo Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Previously Treated Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia; Relapsing Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Secondary Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Summary: this phase i trial is studying the side effects and best dose of sjg-136 in treating patients with relapsed or refractory acute leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, blastic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia, or chronic lymphocytic leukemia. drugs used in chemotherapy, such as sjg-136, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing.

objectives: i. establish the maximum tolerated dose of sjg-136 in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (aml), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (all) myelodysplastic syndrome (mds), chronic myelogenous leukemia in blastic phase (cml-bp), or chronic lymphocytic leukemia (cll). ii. determine dose-limiting toxicities and pharmacokinetics of this drug in these patients. outline: this is a dose-escalation study. patients receive sjg-136 iv over 15 minutes on days 1-5. courses repeat every 21 days in the absence of unacceptable toxicity or disease progression. cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of sjg-136 until the maximum tolerated dose (mtd) is determined. the mtd is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 3 or 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. a total of 10 patients are treated at the mtd.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * diagnosis of 1 of the following hematologic malignancies: * acute myeloid leukemia * acute lymphoblastic leukemia * myelodysplastic syndromes * chronic myelogenous leukemia in blastic phase * chronic lymphocytic leukemia * relapsed or refractory disease * no immediately available, potentially curable options (e.g., stem cell transplantation) available * bilirubin normal (unless elevated due to gilbert's syndrome) * hiv positivity allowed provided cd4 counts are normal with no aids-defining disease * not pregnant or nursing * negative pregnancy test * fertile patients must use effective contraception * no uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, any of the following: * ongoing or active infection * symptomatic congestive heart failure * unstable angina pectoris * cardiac arrhythmia * psychiatric illness or social situations that would limit study compliance * recovered from prior therapy * ecog performance status =\< 2 * sgot and sgpt =\< 2.5 times upper limit of normal (uln) * creatinine normal or creatinine clearance \>= 60 ml/min * primary resistance (i.e., failed to achieve a complete remission \[cr\] to a standard induction regimen) or relapsed after achievement of a cr. * must have documented failure to last cytotoxic regimen prior to study entry. * ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. exclusion criteria: * no known cns disease * no history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to sjg-136 * more than 7 days since radiotherapy * no concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for hiv-positive patients * no other anti-leukemia agents except hydroxyurea =\< 5 grams/day =\< 14 days prior to and during first course of treatment to control blood counts