Tanespimycin and Cytarabine in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia, or Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Inclusion Criteria:

Diagnosis of 1 of the following:

Acute myeloid leukemia, except acute promyelocytic leukemia (M3 disease), meeting 1 of the following criteria:

Failed to achieve complete remission (CR) after initial induction therapy regimen*
First relapse within 1 year of initial CR
Failed re-induction therapy at first or second relapse
Second or third relapse after completing ≤ 3 different induction therapy regimens
Antecedent hematologic disorder (myelodysplastic syndromes [MDS], chronic myeloproliferative disease, or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia [CMML])
Received prior chemotherapy for a non-hematologic malignancy
High-risk cytogenetic abnormalities (abnormalities of chromosome 5, 7, 8, or 11 OR ≥ 3 karyotypic abnormalities)

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, meeting 1 of the following criteria:

Failed to achieve CR after initial induction therapy regimen
First relapse within 1 year of initial CR
Failed re-induction therapy at first or second relapse
Second or third relapse after completing ≤ 3 different induction therapy regimens

Chronic myelogenous leukemia, meeting the following criteria:

Accelerated OR blast phase (> 10% increase in the blast percentage in bone marrow)

Failed prior imatinib mesylate

No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen in addition to imatinib mesylate

CMML, meeting the following criteria:

More than 10% increase in blast percentage AND organ infiltration OR impending marrow failure as evidenced by cytopenia
No t(5;12) by cytogenetics (unless failed prior trial of imatinib mesylate)
High-grade MDS, defined as > 10% blasts on marrow cellularity (refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation) OR International Prognostic Scoring System MDS prognostic score > 1.5
Not a candidate for allogenic bone marrow transplantation* from a related sibling donor (i.e., HLA-identical sibling)
No known standard or potentially curative therapy exists or is capable of extending life expectancy
No clinical symptoms suggesting CNS leukemia
Performance status - ECOG 0-2
At least 60 days
See Disease Characteristics
Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (unless attributed to underlying disease)
Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min
No New York Heart Association class III-IV heart failure
No myocardial infarction within the past year
LVEF ≥ 40% by MUGA
No cardiac symptoms ≥ grade 2
No uncontrolled dysrhythmia requiring medication
No poorly controlled angina
QTc ≤ 450 msec for men and ≤ 470 msec for women
No congenital long QT syndrome
No left bundle branch block
No ischemic heart disease within the past 6 months
No history of cardiac toxicity after treatment with anthracyclines (e.g., doxorubicin hydrochloride, daunorubicin hydrochloride, mitoxantrone hydrochloride, bleomycin, or carmustine
No other significant cardiac disease
No active uncontrolled infection
No history of serious allergic reaction to eggs
No known HIV infection or AIDS (with or without highly active antiretroviral treatment)
DLCO > 80%
No pulmonary symptoms ≥ grade 2

No symptomatic pulmonary disease requiring medication including any of the following:

Dyspnea on or off exertion
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
Significant pulmonary disease (e.g., chronic obstruction/restrictive pulmonary disease)

No oxygen requirement

No home oxygen that meets the medicare requirement
No history of pulmonary toxicity after treatment with anthracyclines (e.g., doxorubicin hydrochloride, daunorubicin hydrochloride, mitoxantrone hydrochloride, bleomycin, or carmustine
Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
No psychosis
No other serious underlying medical condition that would preclude study participation
No prior allogeneic or autologous bone marrow transplantation
No concurrent immunotherapy
No concurrent biologic agents
No concurrent gene therapy
See Disease Characteristics
Recovered from prior chemotherapy
At least 48 hours since prior hydroxyurea for prevention of leukostasis
No other concurrent chemotherapy
At least 48 hours since prior glucocorticoids for prevention of leukostasis
No prior radiotherapy that included the heart in the field (e.g., mantle) or chest
No concurrent radiotherapy
No concurrent drugs that may cause QTc prolongation
No concurrent participation in another clinical trial involving a pharmacologic agent for symptom control or therapeutic intent
No other concurrent investigational drugs or therapy