Entinostat and Clofarabine in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed, Relapsed, or Refractory Poor-Risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or Bilineage/Biphenotypic Leukemia

This phase I trial studies the side effects and best dose of entinostat when given together with clofarabine in treating patients with newly diagnosed, relapsed, or refractory poor-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia or bilineage/biphenotypic leukemia. Entinostat may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as clofarabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving entinostat with clofarabine may kill more cancer cells.