Retinoic acids in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia.
Retinoic acid, the active metabolite of vitamin A has been shown to differentiate in vitro human leukaemic cells from patients with acute promyeolocytic leukaemia (APL). The results obtained in vivo with the 13-cis isomer of retinoic acid in combination with or after chemotherapy in four cases of APL are described. More recently Huang et al from the Shangai Institute of Haematology have treated 24 cases of APL with all-trans retinoic acid alone. They obtained 24 complete remissions. This success prompted us to treat patients with APL and a contra-indication to chemotherapy with all-trans retinoic acid. The results confirm the great efficacy of all-trans retinoic acid in APL.
Department of Hematology M3, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France.
S
S
Castaigne
C
C
Chomienne
M T
MT
Daniel
R
R
Berger
J M
JM
Miclea
P
P
Ballerini
L
L
Degos
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014212:Tretinoin