Clinico-biological features of 30 patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia and response to combination induction chemotherapy with all-trans retinoic acid and anthracycline.
30 adult patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) were seen at our institution overthe past 7 years. Their white cell count at presentation ranged from 400/microl to 54,900/microl. Cytogenetic studies were successful in 28 patients, of which 26(93%) were positive for t(15;17). Molecular analysis by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction demonstrated the PML-RARalpha fusion transcript in all 30 patients. The majority of patients had breakpoints at the 3' end with bcr1 products predominating. Complete remission rate of 92% was achieved using all-trans retinoic acid and anthracycline as induction chemotherapy in 26 patients. Of these, retinoic acid syndrome was observed in 4 cases, with 1 fatality. In conclusion, APL is a distinct entity with a highly specific molecular marker - t(15;17) translocation - that can be successfully induced into remission with all-trans retinoic acid and anthracycline in most patients.
Lim
L C
LC
Department of Hematology, Singapore General Hospital. ghell@sgh.gov.sg
Vellupillai
M
M
Ghafar
A A
AA
D000328:Adult; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002884:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 / Q000235:genetics; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014178:Translocation, Genetic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014212:Tretinoin