Lenalidomide Plus Chemotherapy for AML

This research study is a Phase I clinical trial. Phase I clinical trials test the safety of an investigational combination of drugs. Phase I studies also try to define the appropriate dose of the investigational combination of drugs to use for further studies. "Investigational" means that the combination of drugs is still being studied and that research doctors are trying to find out more about it. It also means that the FDA has not approved this combination of drugs for AML. As part of this research study, you will take lenalidomide in combination with MEC. MEC are FDA approved chemotherapy drugs that are commonly used in the treatment of AML. Lenalidomide is approved by the FDA for patients with multiple myeloma, and some patients with myelodysplasia. Lenalidomide is considered investigational in this research study because it is not approved by the FDA for patients with AML. Lenalidomide is a drug that affects the immune system, called an immunomodulatory drug or IMID. This drug is successful in the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma and some patients with myelodysplasia, a pre-leukemic condition. Other research studies suggest that lenalidomide may also be effective in patients with AML. Since we know that many patients who receive MEC chemotherapy alone do not have a prolonged remission (time free from leukemia), we are studying the addition of lenalidomide to MEC. In this research study, we are looking for the highest dose of lenalidomide that can be given safely with MEC.