Arsenic trioxide for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes.
The impressive activity of arsenic trioxide in acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) has renewed the interest in this old compound. Arsenic trioxide targets the sulfhydryl groups present in many proteins involved in oncogenesis and has a broad spectrum of biological activities. This article will review the mechanisms of action of the drug and their relevance to the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a disease for which no standard treatment currently exists. The early clinical experience has confirmed the activity of arsenic trioxide in MDS. The preliminary results of ongoing Phase II studies conducted in patients with MDS suggest that arsenic trioxide produces haematological improvement including durable transfusion independence in approximately 30% of patients. The current data are presented and discussed in this review.
Vey
Norbert
N
Department d'Haematologie, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France. veyn@marseille.fnclcc.fr
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010087:Oxides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001152:Arsenicals; D010087:Oxides; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide