Decitabine in Treating Patients With Myelofibrosis

Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine response rate (complete and partial responses and hematological improvement) to decitabine in patients with myelofibrosis.

II. To determine the safety of decitabine in patients with myelofibrosis.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine the effects of decitabine on specific epigenetic changes including methylation status of specific target genes and gene re-expression.

II. To determine the effect of decitabine on hemoglobin F levels and on the absolute numbers of circulating cluster of differentiation (CD) 34+ progenitor cells and to investigate the potential utility of these markers as a surrogate for biologic activity of decitabine in myeloid metaplasia with myelofibrosis (MMM).

OUTLINE:

Patients receive decitabine subcutaneously (SC) on days 1-5 and 8-12. Treatment repeats every 42 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.