Decitabine and FR901228 in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Leukemia, Myelodysplastic Syndromes, or Myeloproliferative Disorders

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed diagnosis of 1 of the following hematologic malignancies:

Acute myeloid leukemia

Previously untreated patients > 60 years of age who are not eligible for front-line therapy are eligible for this study
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)

Documented hematologic resistance to imatinib mesylate OR no cytogenetic response after 12 months of prior treatment with imatinib mesylate
Philadelphia chromosome-negative CML allowed provided disease is resistant to standard therapy (e.g., hydroxyurea) OR disease progressed (blasts > 5% and platelet count < 100,000/mm^3) during standard therapy

Myelodysplastic syndromes

International Prognostic Scoring System risk category ≥ intermediate-1
Patients who are not eligible for front-line therapy are eligible for this study
Myeloproliferative disease

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Failed or progressed during ≥ 1 prior fludarabine-based therapy AND alemtuzmab

Acute promyelocytic leukemia

Progressed after prior treatment with standard chemotherapy, tretinoin, and arsenic trioxide

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia

Resistant to standard therapy (e.g., hydroxyurea) OR disease progressed (blasts > 5% and platelet count < 100,000/mm^3) during standard therapy
Relapsed or refractory disease
No known brain or meningeal disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

Over 18

Performance status

ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy

More than 8 weeks

Hepatic

Bilirubin < 2 mg/dL
AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal

Renal

Creatinine < 2 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

QTc < 500 msec
LVEF > 40% by MUGA
No New York Heart Association class III or IV congestive heart failure
No myocardial infarction within the past year
No uncontrolled dysrhythmias
No uncontrolled angina
No left ventricular hypertrophy by EKG
No history of serious ventricular arrhythmia (e.g., ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation ≥ 3 beats in a row)
No other significant cardiac disease

Immunologic

No history of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to study drugs
No ongoing or active infection
No HIV positivity

Other

Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
No other uncontrolled illness

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Chemotherapy

Recovered from prior chemotherapy
At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) unless there is evidence of rapidly progressive disease

Radiotherapy

At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Other

No concurrent agents that cause QTc prolongation
No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies for the malignancy

No concurrent hydrochlorothiazide

Concurrent potassium-conserving combinations (e.g., Maxide® or Dyazide®) or other antihypertensive agents allowed