Phase II Study of Idarubicin, Cytarabine, and Vorinostat With High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Diagnosis of 1) AML (World Health Organization (WHO) classification definition of \>/= 20% blasts), or 2) intermediate-2 or high-risk MDS (defined by the IPSS classification2). 2. Patients aged 15 to 65 years; 3. For the initial run-in phase of the study, patients with relapsed or refractory disease or patients with secondary untreated disease are eligible, however, these patients must not have had prior exposure to a histone deacetylase inhibitor, prior antecedent hematological disorder or secondary disease with complex cytogenetics. 4. For the actual phase II portion of the study: patients must be chemonaïve, i.e., not have received any chemotherapy (except hydrea) for AML or MDS. They may have received hypomethylating agents for prior MDS and transfusions, hematopoietic growth factors or vitamins. Temporary prior measures such as apheresis or hydrea are allowed; 5. In those patients that have received prior therapy, at least 2 weeks need to have elapsed before participating in this study. Treatment may start earlier if deemed in the best interest of the patient after discussion with the PI of the study ; 6. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status \</= 2 7. Serum biochemical values with the following limits unless considered due to leukemia: creatinine \</=2 mg/dl; total bilirubin \</=2 mg/dL, unless increase is due to hemolysis or congenital disorder; transaminases (SGPT or SGOT) \</=2.5\* upper limit of normal (ULN); 8. Ability to swallow oral medication; 9. Ability to understand and provide signed informed consent; 10. Cardiac ejection fraction must be \>/=50% (by either multiple gated acquisition scan (MUGA) scan or echocardiography). 11. Diagnosis of 1) AML (WHO classification definition of \> 20% blasts), or 2) intermediate-2 or high-risk MDS (defined by the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) classification) with Flt-3 mutation. Flt-3 extension phase. 12. Patients aged 15 to 65 years are eligible. Flt-3 extension phase. 13. Patients with relapsed or refractory disease or patients with secondary untreated disease are eligible, however, these patients must not have had prior exposure to a histone deacetylase inhibitor. All patients should be Flt-3 positive. Flt-3 extension phase. 14. Patients with newly diagnosed Flt3 positive AML are allowed. Flt-3 extension phase. 15. In those patients that have received prior therapy, at least 2 weeks need to have elapsed before participating in this study. Treatment may start earlier if deemed in the best interest of the patient after discussion with the PI of the study. Flt-3 extension phase. 16. ECOG performance status \</= 2. Flt-3 extension phase. 17. Serum biochemical values with the following limits unless considered due to leukemia. creatinine \</=2 mg/dl; total bilirubin \</=2 mg/dL, unless increase is due to hemolysis or congenital disorder - transaminases (SGPT or SGOT) \</=2.5\* ULN. Flt-3 extension phase. 18. Ability to swallow oral medication. Flt-3 extension phase. 19. Ability to understand and provide signed informed consent. Flt-3 extension phase. 20. Cardiac ejection fraction must be \>/=50% (by either MUGA scan or echocardiography). Flt-3 extension phase. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Diagnosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia; 2. Active, uncontrolled, systemic infection considered opportunistic, life threatening or clinical significant at the time of treatment, or any severe concurrent disease, which in the opinion of the investigator and after discussion with the principal investigator, would make the patient inappropriate for study entry; 3. Male and female patients who are fertile agree to use an effective barrier method of birth control (i.e., latex condom, diaphragm, cervical cap, etc.) to avoid pregnancy. Female patients need a negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 7 days of study enrollment (applies only if patient of childbearing potential. Non childbearing is defined as 1 year or more postmenopausal or surgically sterilized); 4. Symptomatic central nervous system (CNS) involvement; 5. Patient is unable to take and/or tolerate oral medications on a continuous basis; 6. Patient has known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or known HIV-related malignancy; 7. Patient has active hepatitis B or C infection. Active disease is defined as elevated liver enzymes and/or clinical symptoms of hepatitis in addition to positive blood test for hepatitis surface antigen. In the absence of elevated liver enzymes and/or clinical symptoms, the blood test for hepatitis core antigens is not required. 8. Patient is pregnant or breast-feeding; 9. Patient has a known allergy or hypersensitivity to any component of vorinostat; 10. Patient has a history of thrombotic disorders; 11. History of any psychiatric condition that might impair the patient's ability to understand or to comply with the requirements of the study or to provide informed consent. 12. Diagnosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Flt-3 extension phase. 13. Active, uncontrolled, systemic infection considered opportunistic, life threatening or clinical significant at the time of treatment, or any severe concurrent disease, which in the opinion of the investigator and after discussion with the principal investigator, would make the patient inappropriate for study entry. Flt-3 extension phase. 14. Male and female patients who are fertile agree to use an effective barrier method of birth control (i.e., latex condom, diaphragm, cervical cap, etc.) to avoid pregnancy. Female patients need a negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 7 days of study enrollment (applies only if patient of childbearing potential. Non childbearing is defined as 1 year or more postmenopausal or surgically sterilized). Flt-3 extension phase. 15. Symptomatic CNS involvement. Flt-3 extension phase. 16. Patient is unable to take and/or tolerate oral medications on a continuous basis. Flt-3 extension phase. 17. Patient has known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or known HIV-related malignancy. Flt-3 extension phase. 18. Patient has active hepatitis B or C infection. Active disease is defined as elevated liver enzymes and/or clinical symptoms of hepatitis in addition to positive blood test for hepatitis surface antigen. In the absence of elevated liver enzymes and/or clinical symptoms, the blood test for hepatitis core antigens is not required. Flt-3 extension phase. 19. Patient is pregnant or breast-feeding. Flt-3 extension phase. 20. Patient has a known allergy or hypersensitivity to any component of vorinostat. Flt-3 extension phase. 21. Patient has a history of thrombotic disorders. Flt-3 extension phase. 22. History of any psychiatric condition that might impair the patient's ability to understand or to comply with the requirements of the study or to provide informed consent. Flt-3 extension phase.