A Phase II Study of Gleevec and Arsenic Trioxide in Patients With CML Who Fail Gleevec

Inclusion criteria: * All patients, 18 years of age or older, with a diagnosis of CML. * Patients must have a life expectancy of at least 12 weeks. * Patients must have an ECOG performance status of 0-2. * Patients must sign an informed consent. * Patients should have adequate hepatic function with a total bilirubin \< 2 mg/dl and SGOT or SGPT \< two times the upper limit of normal, and adequate renal function as defined by a serum creatinine \< 1.5 x upper limit of normal. * Patients with CML in chronic phase on gleevec as first line therapy who fulfill the following criteria: * Failure to achieve a complete hematologic response (CHR) after 3 months of therapy (hematologic resistance) * Failure to achieve a complete cytogenetic response (CGCR) after \> 9 months of therapy. * Cytogenetic relapse, defined as an increase in the Ph+ cells by at least 30%. * Hematologic relapse defined as the appearance of any of the following, confirmed by a second determination \> 1 month later: * WBC count \>20, 000, * Platelet count \>600,000, * Progressive splenomegaly \> 5 cm below the left intercostals margin, * \>5% myelocytes and/or metamyelocytes in the peripheral blood, * Blasts or promyelocytes in the peripheral blood Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant women or nursing mothers are not eligible for this trial. Patients of child bearing potential must use adequate contraception. * Patients may receive no other concurrent chemotherapy or radiation therapy during this trial. * Patients with severe medical problems such as uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular disease or active infections are not eligible for this trial.