STI571 Plus Cytarabine in Treating Patients With Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

You may be eligible if

• Diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia in myeloid blast crisis
• * At least 30% blasts in bone marrow
• Philadelphia chromosome positive by cytogenetic analysis
• bcr/abl translocation by fluorescent in situ hybridization
• Ineligible for or refused allogeneic stem cell transplantation
• Not previously treated with imatinib mesylate OR currently receiving imatinib mesylate with stable disease on 2 bone marrow biopsies at least 2 weeks apart
• Performance status - ECOG 0-2
• See Disease Characteristics
• Bilirubin less than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST and ALT less than 3 times ULN
• Creatinine less than 2 times ULN
• No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for at least 2 weeks after study for female patients and at least 3 months after study for male patients
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior allogeneic bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation
• At least 48 hours since prior interferon alfa
• At least 24 hours since prior hydroxyurea
• At least 6 weeks since prior busulfan
• No other prior chemotherapy for blast crisis (except hydroxyurea)
• Concurrent hydroxyurea or anagrelide for severe leukocytosis or thrombocytosis allowed
• At least 4 weeks since prior investigational agents