Phase II Study of Bexarotene in Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Inclusion Criteria:

Age >= 18 years
Confirmed diagnosis of AML as proven by bone marrow biopsy
Must have received prior induction therapy with conventional chemotherapy and/or Mylotarg or otherwise not eligible for conventional chemotherapy
ECOG performance status of 0-2
Recovered from toxicities of prior chemotherapy

Exclusion Criteria:

History of pancreatitis
Active alcohol abuse
Taken bexarotene in the past
WBC > 10,000/uL at time of enrollment
Cytotoxic therapy within the past 14 days other than hydrea, low dose cytarabine or low dose Mylotarg
Significant organ disfunction: total bilirubin > 3x ULN, AST or ALT >3 x ULN, creatinine > 3 mg/dL, on blood pressure supporting medications or mechanical ventilation
Active participant in any other investigational treatment study for AML
Life expectancy of less than 1 month
Use of blood growth factors (G-CSF, GM-CSF, Aranesp, erythropoietin, or Neumega) within 1 week prior to treatment initiation
Uncontrolled hyperlipidemia
Known history of HIV
Known active CNS involvement with AML
Women of childbearing potential or active breast feeding