Imatinib Mesylate in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia Who Have Received Chemotherapy

INCLUSION CRITERIA

Diagnostic bone marrow aspirate/ biopsy or peripheral blood confirming AML.
At the time of diagnosis, patients must have c-kit (also known as CD117) positive AML (20% or more of the blasts express c-kit[CD117]).
A flow scattergram (from the diagnostic AML specimen) must be available to calculate a c-kit MFI.
Patients must have received standard induction chemotherapy with ADE (cytarabine, daunorubicin, and etoposide) or with 7+3 (7 days of cytarabine continuous infusion and 3 days of an anthracycline (idarubicin, daunorubicin, or mitoxantrone). Patients with persistent leukemia on a Day 10-28 marrow may have received a second course of chemotherapy.
After the completion of induction therapy, patients must have attained a complete remission based on blood count recovery (neutrophil count ≥ 1,000/µL, platelet count ≥ 100,000/µL), and bone marrow aspirate and biopsy (< 5% myeloblasts).
For patients < 60 years of age, patients must have received at least 2 courses of post-remission therapy with at least intermediate dose (400 mg/m2/day). *Patients with t(8;21) or inversion 16 at the time of diagnosis must have received at least 2 courses of high dose cytarabine. For patients > or = 60 years of age, patients must have received 1 course of post-remission therapy (the type of chemotherapy will not be specified).
Patients must be registered on this study (maintenance Imatinib mesylate) within 60 days of the last dose of post-remission therapy.
A bone marrow aspirate and/or biopsy must be done within 3 weeks of registration documenting CR.
Women of childbearing potential and sexually active males must use an effective method of contraception.
Female patients of childbearing potential must have negative pregnancy test within 7 days before initiation of study drug dosing. Postmenopausal women must be amenorrheic for at least 12 months to be considered of non-childbearing potential. Male and female patients of reproductive potential must agree to employ an effective barrier method of birth control throughout the study and for up to 3 months following discontinuation of study drug.
ECOG Performance Status 0-2.
Creatinine must be ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal.
Total bilirubin must be ≤ 2 mg/dl and AST and ALT must be ≤ 2 times the upper limit of normal.
Previous treatment-related toxicities must have resolved to ≤ Grade 1 excluding alopecia.
Written, voluntary informed consent.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

Acute promyelocytic leukemia.
Patients with an autologous or allogeneic bone marrow transplant.
History of HIV.
Pregnant or breast-feeding.
Serious or poorly controlled medical conditions that would interfere with the protocol.
At the time of study entry, any medications which could significantly interact with imatinib mesylate must be discontinued.
Patients with active extramedullary disease are not eligible.
Patient has received any other investigational agents within 28 days of first day of study drug dosing.
Patient is < 5 years free of another primary malignancy except: if the other primary malignancy is not currently clinically significant nor requiring active intervention, or if other primary malignancy is a basal cell skin cancer or a cervical carcinoma in situ. Existence of any other malignant disease is not allowed.
Patient with Grade III/IV cardiac problems as defined by the New York Heart Association Criteria. (i.e., congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction within 6 months of study)
Patient has known chronic liver disease (i.e., chronic active hepatitis, and cirrhosis).
Patient previously received radiotherapy to ≥ 25 % of the bone marrow
Patient had a major surgery within 2 weeks prior to study entry.
Patient with any significant history of non-compliance to medical regimens or with inability to grant reliable informed consent.