title: Hematological and molecular remission with combination chemotherapy in a patient with PLZF-RARalpha acute promyelocytic leukemia (APML).
abstract: Patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APML) with the t(11;17) translocation usually respond poorly to all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and chemotherapy. We describe a patient with promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger/retinoic acid receptor alpha (PLZF/RARalpha) APML who was treated with combination chemotherapy after poor response to arsenic trioxide. He achieved hematological remission in 4 weeks followed by achievement of molecular remission in 8 weeks. Four cycles of consolidation chemotherapy followed by four cycles of maintenance therapy were given over a period of 9 months. At a follow-up of 32 months after achieving hematological remission, he continues to remain in hematological and molecular remission with normal blood parameters and negative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results. Combination chemotherapy can achieve sustained remission in patients with PLZF/RARalpha APML.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Poonkuzhali
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chandy
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Srivastava
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003630:Daunorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D010087:Oxides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012074:Remission Induction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
chemical_list: D001152:Arsenicals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; D010087:Oxides; C118318:PLZF-RARalpha fusion protein, human; D003561:Cytarabine; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide; D003630:Daunorubicin