Summary
This phase I trial tests the safety, side effects, and best dose of uproleselan in combination with fludarabine and cytarabine in treating patients with acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome or mixed phenotype acute leukemia that has come back (relapsed) or does not respond to treatment (refractory) and that expresses E-selectin ligand on the cell membrane. Uproleselan binds to E-selectin expressed on endothelial cells of the bone marrow and prevents their interaction with selectin-E ligand-expressing cancer cells. This may prevent leukemia cells from being sequestered in the bone marrow niche and escaping the effect of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs, such as fludarabine and cytarabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving uproleselan in combination with fludarabine and cytarabine may enhance their activity.