| Inclusion Criteria: | 1) Diagnosis of 1) AML (WHO classification definition of > 20% blasts), or 2) high risk MDS (defined as the presence of > 10% blasts).
2) Patients aged 15 to 60 years are eligible. Patients older than 60 who are deemed fit to receive intensive chemotherapy by the treating physician are eligible after discussion with the PI. For the Phase II portion of the study, patients must be chemo-naïve, i.e. not have received any prior chemotherapy (except hydrea) for AML or MDS. They could have received hypomethylator agents, transfusions, hematopoietic growth factors or vitamins. Temporary prior measures such as pheresis or hydrea are allowed. In the Phase I portion, patients with relapsed or refractory AML/MDS are also eligible.
3) Serum biochemical values with the following limits unless considered due to leukemia: 1) creatinine less than or equal to 2 mg/dl, 2) total bilirubin less than or equal to 2 mg/dL, unless increase is due to hemolysis or congenital disorder, and 3) transaminases (SG PT) less than or equal to 2.5x ULN
4) Ability to take oral medication.
5) Ability to understand and provide signed informed consent.
6) Baseline test of ejection fraction must be >/=50%.
7) Performance status < 3, unless directly related to the disease process as determined by the principal investigator. |