Arsenic Trioxide, Ascorbic Acid, Dexamethasone, and Thalidomide in Myelofibrosis/Myeloproliferative Disorder
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2007-10-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as arsenic trioxide and dexamethasone, work in
different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping
them from dividing. Sometimes when chemotherapy is given, it does not stop the growth of
cancer cells. The cancer is said to be resistant to chemotherapy. Giving ascorbic acid may
reduce drug resistance and allow the cancer cells to be killed. Thalidomide may stop the
growth of cancer cells by blocking blood flow to the cancer. Giving arsenic trioxide together
with ascorbic acid, dexamethasone, and thalidomide may kill more cancer cells.
PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving arsenic trioxide together with
ascorbic acid, dexamethasone, and thalidomide works in treating patients with chronic
idiopathic myelofibrosis or myelodysplastic or myeloproliferative disorders.