Phase I/II Trial: BIBF 1120 Added to Low-dose Cytarabine in Elderly Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

RATIONALE: Low-dose cytarabine works in a minority of elderly patients with an acute myeloid leukemia unfit for intensive induction therapy by killing of leukemia cells. Addition of BIBF1120 to low-dose cytarabine might enhance the killing of leukemia cells. PURPOSE: This phase I / II trial is studying how safe BIBF1120 can be combined with low-dose cytarabine (phase I) and how well the combination of low-dose cytarabine and BIBF1120 works in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia unfit for intensive chemotherapy (phase II).