Interleukin 11, Thrombocytopenia, Imatinib in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) Patients

IL-11 is a hormone normally produced in your body that plays a role in stimulating the production of platelets. Before you can start treatment on this study, 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 blood sample (1 teaspoon) collected to check your platelet count. 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 one injection of IL-11 under the skin (usually of the arms, legs or abdomen) 3 times a week. If your platelet count increases, treatment will continue on this schedule as long as a platelet increase is observed. If the treatment is well tolerated but there is not enough of a platelet improvement, the dose and frequency of IL-11 injections may be increased. If the platelet count becomes high enough, treatment may be stopped but may also be restarted if necessary. During therapy with IL-11, additional blood samples (1 teaspoon each) will be collected to measure the platelet count every week until the platelets are stable and then every 2 to 6 weeks while you are receiving treatment on study. No other tests are required for this study. While you are on this study, you will continue your treatment with imatinib mesylate or other tyrosine kinase inhibitor as decided by your doctor for standard care.You will be taken off if there is no response to treatment or if there are unacceptable side effects. There will be no follow-up after you go off study. This is an investigational study. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved IL-11 for use in chemotherapy-caused low platelet counts. A maximum of 30 patients will take part in this study. All will be enrolled at M. D. Anderson.