title: [The effects of different post-remission treatment on long-term survival of acute promyelocytic leukemia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To Summarize and compare the effects of the different post-remission treatment on long-term survival in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The long-term survival and relapse of 111 APL patients with different post-remission treatment were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into four groups. Group 1: All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) + As(2)O(3) + chemotherapy; Group 2: ATRA + chemotherapy; Group 3: As(2)O(3) + chemotherapy; Group 4: chemotherapy alone. The median follow-up time was 32 (6 - 185) months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 85 patients survived without diseases, 18 patients died and 8 patients dropped out. In the four groups, the patients survived without disease were (36/40, 23/30, 21/26, 5/15), respectively. The cases of patients survived over 3 years were (16/40, 12/30, 11/26, 1/15), respectively. The patients died were (3/40, 5/30, 5/26, 5/15), respectively. The estimated 5-year overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) were (78.3 +/- 4.9)%, (76.9 +/- 5.1)%, respectively. There were 21 patients relapsed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The APL patients receiving combined post-remission therapy had better OS and RFS those receiving chemotherapy alone. Sequential therapy combining ATRA, As(2)O(3) and chemotherapy is the best post-remission therapy for long-term survival of APL patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Haematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Chinese Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yao-zhong
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zeng-jun
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ren-chi
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ming-zhe
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Lu-gui
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Qiu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012074:Remission Induction; D055815:Young Adult