A Multi-Center Phase 2 Study of VEGF Trap as a Single Agent in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), as defined by WHO criteria and documented by morphologic examination of bone marrow aspirate and biopsy, including the following stages: * AML that is refractory to at least one course of induction chemotherapy * AML that has relapsed following one or more histologically documented complete remissions * Patients relapsing following chemotherapy alone, following autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant, or following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant * Patients with untreated AML if they are felt not to be eligible for standard induction chemotherapy because of age or comorbidity * No CNS disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Inclusion criteria: * ECOG performance status 0-2 * Life expectancy ≥ 60 days * AST/ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN OR creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min * Urine protein:creatinine ratio \< 1 OR 24-hour urine protein \< 500 mg * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception prior to, during, and for at least 6 months after completion of study therapy Exclusion criteria: * Known hypersensitivity to Chinese hamster ovary cell products or other recombinant human antibodies * Serious or nonhealing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture * History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to other agents used in the study * History of abdominal fistula, gastrointestinal perforation, or intra-abdominal abscess within 28 days of treatment * Clinically significant cardiovascular disease within the past 6 months, including any of the following: * History of cerebrovascular accident * Myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, or unstable angina * New York Heart Association class III-IV congestive heart failure or serious cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication * Clinically significant peripheral vascular disease * Pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis, or other thromboembolic event * Uncontrolled hypertension, defined as BP \> 150/100 mm Hg, or systolic BP \> 180 mm Hg if diastolic blood pressure is \< 90 mm Hg, on at least 2 repeated determinations on separate days within the past 3 months * Evidence of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements * Significant traumatic injury within 28 days prior to day 1 of therapy PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * Recovered from all therapy * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and radiotherapy * At least 4 weeks since prior FDA approved agents for treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes and/or AML, including lenalidomide and arsenic trioxide * No prior anti-VEGF, anti-VEGFR, or antiangiogenic agents (e.g., bevacizumab) * More than 28 days since prior major surgical procedure or open biopsy * More than 2 days since prior bone marrow aspirate/biopsy or central venous catheter placement * No anticipation of need for major surgical procedure during the study course * Full-dose anticoagulation (e.g., warfarin) with PT/INR \> 1.5 allowed provided that both of the following criteria are met: * In-range INR (usually between 2 and 3) on a stable dose of oral anticoagulant * No active bleeding or pathological condition that carries a high risk of bleeding (e.g., known varices) * Prior and concurrent hydroxyurea allowed for blast control * Hydroxyurea must be discontinued no more than 24 hrs after the first dose of aflibercept * No HIV-positive patients on combination antiretroviral therapy * No other concurrent investigational agents