PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:
I. Evaluate the safety of a regimen incorporating fludarabine phosphate (fludarabine), high-dose cytarabine, filgrastim-sndz, gemtuzumab ozogamicin and idarubicin hydrochloride (idarubicin) in patients with untreated inv(16) or t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
II. Evaluate the complete remission rates achieved in this population with this regimen.
SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:
I. Assess the proportion of patients with untreated inv(16) or t(8;21) AML who, having entered complete remission (CR) on this regimen, remain alive in CR two years from CR date.
II. Assess whether the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) results can be used in detecting relapse in these patients.
OUTLINE:
REMISSION INDUCTION: Patients receive filgrastim-sndz subcutaneously (SC) once daily (QD) beginning on day -1 and continuing until blood count recovery. Patients also receive fludarabine phosphate intravenously (IV) over 30 minutes on days 1-5, cytarabine IV over 4 hours on days 1-5, gemtuzumab ozogamicin IV over 2 hours on day 1. Patients not in remission after their first induction therapy may repeat remission induction therapy.
POST-REMISSION THERAPY: Patients receive filgrastim-sndz SC on day -1, fludarabine phosphate IV over 30 minutes on days 1-3, cytarabine IV over 4 hours on days 1-3, gemtuzumab ozogamicin IV over 2 hours on day 1 of courses 1 or 2 and 5 or 6, and idarubicin hydrochloride IV over 30 minutes on days 2 and 3 of one post-remission course (post-remission courses 3 or 4) determined by the treating physician after discussion with the PI if suboptimal qPCR response (qPCR \> 0.01 after post-remission cycle 2 or 3). Treatment repeats every 4-6 weeks for up to 6 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
FURTHER MODIFICATION OF POST-REMISSION THERAPY: Patients older than 60, with significant comorbidities, experiencing life-threatening complications, prolonged cytopenias, or not achieving complete molecular response may receive decitabine IV over 1 hour daily for 5 days after discussion with the principal investigator. Treatment repeats every 4-6 weeks for up to 12 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 6 months for 2 years.