Safety Assessment of Two Schedules of Intravenous Infusions of SNS-595 for the Treatment of Hematologic Malignancies

• Pharmacokinetic profile [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Duration of leukemia-free survival [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Anti-tumor activity [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

• - Pharmacokinetic profile
• - Duration of leukemia-free survival
• - Anti-tumor activity

The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and preliminary effectiveness of SNS-595 for the treatment of advanced blood cancers and to learn more about how different doses of SNS-595 affect the disease and the body.

Other objectives of this study include measuring pharmacokinetics (how long the drug can be measured in the blood), biomarker expression, and determining the dose and dose schedule for the next phase of studies with SNS-595.

• Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Acute
• Leukemia, Nonlymphocytic, Acute
• Leukemia, Myeloid, Chronic
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Inclusion Criteria:

• Able to understand and willing to sign a written informed consent document
• Received less than or equal to 3 induction/re-induction regimens for disease(s) defined by the protocol
• Must have relapsed or refractory leukemia for which no standard therapies are expected to result in a durable remission; patients who have not received prior treatment who have either refused or, in the opinion of the Investigator, are not able to tolerate, standard therapy may be included.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior exposure to SNS-595
• Pregnant or breastfeeding
• Women of childbearing potential or male partners of women of childbearing potential unwilling to use an approved, effective means of contraception according to the institution's standards
• Any evidence of active central nervous system (CNS) leukemia
• Any evidence of acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease
• Has active cancer (other than that which is defined by the inclusion criteria for this protocol), except for skin cancer (excluding melanoma)
• Laboratory values outside normal or reasonable reference range specified by the protocol
• Liver function and kidney function outside limits specified by the protocol
• Not yet recovered from side effects of previous cancer therapy
• Myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident/transient ischemic attack (TIA) or thromboembolic event (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolus) within 6 months before the first SNS-595 dose
• Requires kidney dialysis (hemodialysis or peritoneal)
• Received an investigational agent within 14 days before Cycle 1, Day 1
• Prior pelvic radiation therapy or radiation to greater than or equal to 25% of bone marrow reserve (palliative radiation is not excluded as long as it does not exceed greater than or equal to 25% of bone marrow reserve)
• Any other medical (uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia), psychological, or social condition that, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator, would contraindicate the patient's participation in the clinical trial due to safety or compliance with study procedures