The Experimental Treatment of Transfusion Dependent 5q Minus Syndrome With Leucovorin

Inclusion Criteria

All patients 18 years old and older with RA, RARS and RAEB who have a 5q deletion as their
sole cytogenetic abnormality who require transfusion support with blood defined as needing
at least one unit of packed red blood cells per month for greater than or equal to 2
months and/or thrombocytopenia defined as a platelet count less than 50,000, and/or severe
neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count less than 500) are eligible, including patients
that had been treated with chemotherapy or experimental agents such as retinoids,
phenylbutyrate, amifostine, Vitamin D, ATG or hematopoietic growth factors.

Patients must not be transforming to acute leukemia (greater than 20% blasts in marrow
aspirate).

Patients must not have had treatment with growth factors or any other experimental drug
within 4 weeks prior to entry on protocol.

Patients must not have an ECOG performance status greater than 2.

Patients must not have an active uncontrolled infection.

No patients for whom bone marrow transplant is indicated as primary therapy.

Must be able to give informed consent.

Patients must not be HIV positive.

Patients must not be pregnant.