title: All-trans retinoic acid therapy in relapsed/refractory or newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in Japan.
abstract: We have conducted four prospective multicenter studies for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) using oral 45 mg/m2 all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) daily. The first three studies were for relapsed/refractory APL, and the fourth study for newly diagnosed APL. In the first study with ATRA alone, 18 (82%) of 22 evaluable patients achieved complete remission (CR). Initial peripheral leukemia cell counts were significantly less in the CR cases (p < 0.01); < 100/microliters in 17 of 18 CR cases, and > or = 200/microliters in all failure cases. In the second study, if initial leukemia cell counts were more than 200/microliters, chemotherapy with daunorubicin and behenoyl cytarabine was first given, and then ATRA was started. Of 42 evaluable patients, 36 (86%) achieved CR. In the third study, if initial leukemia cell counts were more than 200/microliters, chemotherapy was concomitantly given with ATRA, and if during the ATRA therapy leukemia cell counts became more than 1000/microliters, chemotherapy was added. Of 46 evaluable patients, 36 (78%) achieved CR. Patients achieving CR received standard consolidation and maintenance chemotherapy, and the 29-month predicted disease-free survival (DFS) rate is 72% for 41 cases achieving their first CR with ATRA, and 20% for 49 cases achieving their second CR with ATRA. In the fourth study for newly diagnosed APL, if leukocyte counts were more than 3000/microliters, chemotherapy was concomitantly given with ATRA, and if during the ATRA therapy leukemia cell counts became more than 1000/microliters, chemotherapy was added. Of 109 evaluable patients, 97 (89%) achieved CR, and the 19-month predicted event-free survival rate for all patients is 78%, and the DFS rate is 88% for 97 cases achieving CR. ATRA produces a high CR rate in both relapsed/refractory and newly diagnosed APL, and should be incorporated in the first-line therapy of this disease.
authors: Department of Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Ohno
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Ohnishi
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Takeshita
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Tanimoto
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Murakami
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Kanamaru
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Asou
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Kobayashi
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Kuriyama
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Ohmoto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014212:Tretinoin