title: Role of maintenance chemotherapy in acute promyelocytic leukemia.
abstract: The effect of maintenance chemotherapy on remission duration was analyzed in 39 of 70 patients (56%) with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) who achieved complete remission on induction chemotherapy. Overall, the median remission duration was 26 months, with a 3-year remission rate of 42%. The 3-year remission rate was significantly higher in patients who received 6-mercaptopurine and methotrexate (POMP) during maintenance, compared with those who did not (56% versus 30%; P less than 0.01), and in patients who received long-term maintenance therapy (P less than 0.01). A multivariate regression analysis selected maintenance therapy with POMP to be the only statistically significant factor associated with long-term remission duration. The type of maintenance chemotherapy is important in overall prognosis of patients with APL, and should be investigated further.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kantarjian
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Keating
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: McCredie
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Freireich
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D015122:Mercaptopurine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014750:Vincristine; D015122:Mercaptopurine; D011241:Prednisone; D008727:Methotrexate