Guadecitabine With or Without Idarubicin or Cladribine in Treating Older Patients With Previously Untreated Acute Myeloid Leukemia

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine the complete remission (CR) rate, remission duration, leukemia-free survival, and survival in patients \>= 70 years with previously untreated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with 4 different guadecitabine (SGI-110) single agent and SGI-110 based combination regimens. II. To determine the safety profile and tolerability of the 4 SGI-110 single agent and SGI-110 based combination regimens in patients \>= 70 years of age with previously untreated AML. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. ARM I: INDUCTION THERAPY: Patients receive guadecitabine subcutaneously (SC) on days 1-5. Courses repeat every 4-6 weeks for 2-3 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients achieving a CR or CR with incomplete platelet recovery (CRp) continue on to Maintenance therapy; patients not achieving CR or complete remission with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi) but deriving clinical benefit may continue to Maintenance therapy at the discretion of the Principal Investigator (PI). MAINTENANCE THERAPY: Patients receive guadecitabine as in Induction therapy. Courses repeat every 4-8 weeks for up to 24 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. ARM II (CLOSED): INDUCTION THERAPY: Patients receive guadecitabine SC on days 1-10. Courses repeat every 4-6 weeks for 2-3 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients achieving a CR or CRp continue on to Maintenance therapy; patients not achieving CR or CRi but deriving clinical benefit may continue to Maintenance therapy at the discretion of the PI. MAINTENANCE THERAPY: Patients receive guadecitabine SC on days 1-5 (days 1-10 of courses 1 and 2). Courses repeat every 4-8 weeks for up to 24 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. ARM III: INDUCTION THERAPY: Patients receive guadecitabine SC on days 1-5 and idarubicin intravenously (IV) over up to 1 hour on days 1-2. Courses repeat every 4-6 weeks for 2-3 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients achieving a CR or CRp continue on to Maintenance therapy; patients not achieving CR or CRi but deriving clinical benefit may continue to Maintenance therapy at the discretion of the PI. MAINTENANCE THERAPY: Patients receive guadecitabine SC on days 1-5 and idarubicin IV over up to 1 hour on day 1. Courses repeat every 4-8 weeks for up to 24 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. ARM IV (CLOSED): INDUCTION THERAPY: Patients receive guadecitabine SC and cladribine IV over up to 1 hour on days 1-5. Courses repeat every 4-6 weeks for 2-3 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients achieving a CR or CRp continue on to Maintenance therapy; patients not achieving CR or CRi but deriving clinical benefit may continue to Maintenance therapy at the discretion of the PI. MAINTENANCE THERAPY: Patients receive guadecitabine SC and cladribine IV over up to 1 hour on days 1-5. Courses repeat every 4-8 weeks for up to 24 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every month.