Erlotinib Study for Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients must have an established diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and have either: Low or intermediate 1 risk disease by International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) for MDS with symptomatic anemia (defined as hemoglobin less than 10.0 g/dl) or transfusion dependent anemia (defined as requiring ≥ 4 units of red blood cells (RBCs) administered with a pretreatment hemoglobin value of ≤ 9 g/dL in the 8 weeks prior to Day 1 of treatment in this study). Patients with anemia must have no response to at least to 6 weeks trial of erythroid stimulating agents (ESA) [erythropoietin/ darbepoetin]. Patients with serum erythropoietin levels more than 500 mU/ ml on diagnosis are eligible to the study without erythropoietin/darbepoetin prior treatment. Patients who do not meet anemia criteria are still eligible if they had thrombocytopenia with two or more platelet counts < 50 x 10^9/L or a significant clinical hemorrhage requiring platelet transfusions or if they had neutropenia with an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) < 1 x 10^9/L; Intermediate-2 or high risk MDS by IPSS.
Patients ≥ 60 years with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) by WHO classification and myeloblasts percentage 20-30% (RAEB-t by MDS French-American-British (FAB) classification) are eligible for the study if deemed not suitable for induction chemotherapy or declined that option.
All prior treatment must have been discontinued 28 days prior to Day 1 of treatment in this study except (ESA) and colony stimulating factors where it should be stopped 14 days prior to start therapy on study, and hydroxyurea should be stopped 2 days before.
Prior bone marrow or stem cell transplant is allowed.
Secondary or therapy related MDS patients are eligible.
Patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) are eligible.
Patients must have a performance status of 0 - 2 by Zubrod performance status criteria.
Pretreatment pathology materials must be available for morphologic review. Collection of blood and marrow specimens for pathology review must be completed within 28 days prior to registration.
No other prior malignancy is allowed except for the following: adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, in situ cervical cancer, adequately treated Stage I or II cancer from which the patient is currently in complete remission, or any other cancer from which the patient has been disease-free for at least 2 years.
In calculating days of tests and measurements, the day a test or measurement is done is considered Day 0. Therefore, if a test is done on a Monday, the Monday four weeks later would be considered Day 28. This allows for efficient patient scheduling without exceeding the guidelines. If Day 28 or 60 falls on a weekend or holiday, the limit may be extended to the next working day.
All patients must be informed of the investigational nature of this study and must sign and give written consent in accordance with institutional and federal guidelines.

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients must not have received prior remission induction chemotherapy as treatment for MDS.
Patients must not be pregnant or nursing because of the potential risks of the drugs used in this study. Women/men of reproductive potential may not participate unless they have agreed to use an effective contraceptive method.
Patients who are known HIV positive are not eligible for this study.