Inclusion Criteria:

          -  Diagnosis of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive or BCR-ABL positive CML in early
             chronic phase CML (i.e., time from diagnosis =< 12 months). Except for hydroxyurea
             and/or 1 to 2 doses of cytarabine patients must have received no or minimal prior
             therapy, defined as < 1 month (30 days) of prior Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
             approved tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)

               -  Clonal evolution defined as the presence of additional chromosomal abnormalities
                  other than the Ph chromosome has historically been included as a criterion for
                  accelerated phase. However, patients with clonal evolution as the only criterion
                  of accelerated phase have a significantly better prognosis, and when present at
                  diagnosis may not impact the prognosis at all. Thus, patients with clonal
                  evolution and no other criteria for accelerated phase will be eligible for this
                  study

          -  Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance of 0-2

          -  Total bilirubin < 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) (unless secondary to Gilbert's
             disease, in which case should be < 2.5 x ULN)

          -  Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) < 3 x ULN

          -  Creatinine < 1.5 x ULN

          -  Patients must sign an informed consent indicating they are aware of the
             investigational nature of this study, in keeping with the policies of the hospital

        Exclusion Criteria:

          -  New York Heart Association (NYHA) cardiac class 3-4 heart disease

          -  Cardiac Symptoms: Patients meeting the following criteria are not eligible unless
             cleared by Cardiology:

               -  Uncontrolled angina within 3 months

               -  Diagnosed or suspected congenital long QT syndrome

               -  Any history of clinically significant ventricular arrhythmias (such as
                  ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, or Torsades de pointes).

               -  Prolonged corrected QT (QTc) interval on pre-entry electrocardiogram (> 460 msec)

               -  History of significant bleeding disorder unrelated to cancer, including:

                    -  Diagnosed congenital bleeding disorders (e.g., von Willebrand's disease)

                    -  Diagnosed acquired bleeding disorder within one year (e.g., acquired
                       anti-factor VIII antibodies)

          -  Patients with active, uncontrolled psychiatric disorders include: psychosis, major
             depression, and bipolar disorders

          -  Subject is known to be positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (HIV testing is
             not required)

          -  Evidence of other clinically significant uncontrolled condition(s) including, but not
             limited to:

               -  Uncontrolled and/or active systemic infection (viral, bacterial or fungal)

               -  Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C (HCV) requiring treatment. Note:
                  subjects with serologic evidence of prior vaccination to HBV (i.e. hepatitis B
                  surface [HBs] antigen negative-, anti-HBs antibody positive and anti-hepatitis B
                  core [HBc] antibody negative) or positive anti-HBc antibody from intravenous
                  immunoglobulins (IVIG) may participate

          -  Women of pregnancy potential must practice an effective method of birth control during
             the course of the study, in a manner such that risk of failure is minimized. Prior to
             study enrollment, women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must be advised of the
             importance of avoiding pregnancy during trial participation and the potential risk
             factors for an unintentional pregnancy. Postmenopausal women must be amenorrheic for
             at least 12 months to be considered of non-childbearing potential. Women must continue
             birth control for the duration of the trial and at least 3 months after the last dose
             of study drug. Pregnant or breast-feeding women are excluded. All WOCBP must have a
             negative pregnancy test prior to first receiving investigational product. If the
             pregnancy test is positive, the patient must not receive study drug and must not be
             enrolled in the study

          -  Patients in late chronic phase (i.e., time from diagnosis to treatment > 12 months),
             accelerated (except as noted in inclusion criteria) or blast phase are excluded. The
             definitions of CML phases are as follows:

               -  Early chronic phase: time from diagnosis to therapy =< 12 months

               -  Late chronic phase: time from diagnosis to therapy > 12 months

               -  Blastic phase: presence of 30% blasts or more in the peripheral blood or bone
                  marrow

               -  Accelerated phase CML: presence of any of the following features:

                    -  Peripheral or marrow blasts 15% or more

                    -  Peripheral or marrow basophils 20% or more

                    -  Thrombocytopenia < 100 x 10^9/L unrelated to therapy

                    -  Documented extramedullary blastic disease outside liver or spleen