Therapy of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) With Antithymocyte Globulin (ATG) and TNFR:Fc
Therapy of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) With Antithymocyte Globulin (ATG) and TNFR:Fc
RATIONALE: Biological therapies use different ways to stimulate the immune system and stop cancer cells from growing. Combining different types of biological therapies may kill more cancer cells.
PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of biological therapy in treating patients who have myelodysplastic syndrome.
OBJECTIVES:
OUTLINE: Patients receive anti-thymocyte globulin IV over 8 hours daily for 4 days followed by tumor necrosis factor receptor IgG chimera subcutaneously twice weekly for 16 weeks.
Patients are followed at 8, 16, and 20 weeks.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 15 patients will be accrued for this study.
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
Diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome with no greater than 20% marrow blasts with:
Single or multilineage cytopenia (neutrophils less than 2,000/mm^3 and/or platelet count less than 100,000/mm^3 and/or reticulocyte count less than 18,000/mm^3) OR
Transfusion requirement of at least 2 units packed red blood cells per month and one of the following:
No chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
Age:
Performance status:
Life expectancy:
Hematopoietic:
Hepatic:
Renal:
Other:
PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
Biologic therapy:
Chemotherapy:
Endocrine therapy:
Radiation therapy:
Surgery:
Other: