A Trial of Epigenetic Priming in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

* Diagnostic criteria: Patients must have one of the following diagnoses:

* Acute myeloid leukemia fulfilling the criteria of the WHO Classification (see Appendix I), or
* \>5% but \< 20% marrow myeloblasts and evidence of a clonal de novo AML genetic abnormality \[e.g., t(8;21), inv(16), t(9;11)\], or
* Myeloid sarcoma (also referred to as extramedullary myeloid tumor, granulocytic sarcoma, or chloroma), with or without evidence of a leukemia process in the bone marrow or peripheral blood, with confirmation of myeloid differentiation, or
* High grade myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with greater than 5% blasts, or
* Patients with treatment related myeloid neoplasms including AML and MDS, provided their cumulative anthracycline dose has not exceeded 230 mg/m2 doxorubicin equivalents.
* Other criteria - Patients must meet all the following criteria:

* Age \> 28 days and \< 22 years at time of study entry inclusive, and
* No prior therapy for this malignancy except for one dose of intrathecal therapy and the use of hydroxyurea or low-dose cytarabine (100-200 mg/m2 per day for one week or less for hyperleukocytosis), and
* Written informed consent according to institutional guidelines, and
* Female patients of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test within 2 weeks prior to enrollment, and
* Male and female participants of reproductive potential must use an effective contraceptive method during the study and for a minimum of 6 months after study treatment.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

* Down syndrome
* Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL)
* BCR-ABL1 chronic myeloid leukemia in blast crisis (CML-BC)
* Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML)
* Fanconi anemia (FA)
* Kostmann syndrome
* Shwachman syndrome
* Other bone marrow failure syndromes or low grade (\<5% bone marrow blasts) MDS.
* Use of concomitant chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy other than as specified in the protocol.
* Use of investigational agents within 30 days or any anticancer therapy for this malignancy within 2 weeks before study entry with the exception of IT therapy, hydroxyurea, or low-dose cytarabine as specified in the protocol document. The patient must have recovered from all acute toxicities from any previous therapy.
* Systemic fungal, bacterial, viral, or other infection not controlled (defined as exhibiting ongoing signs/symptoms related to the infection and without improvement, despite appropriate antibiotics or other treatment).
* Pregnant or lactating.
* Any significant concurrent disease, illness, or psychiatric disorder that would compromise patient safety or compliance, interfere with consent, study participation, follow up, or interpretation of study results.
* Prior chemotherapy, with the exception of hydroxyurea or low-dose cytarabine as specified in the protocol document. The patient must have recovered from all acute toxicities from any previous therapy.
* Patients with treatment related myeloid neoplasms with cumulative anthracyclines greater than 230 mg/m2 doxorubicin equivalents.