title: [Effect of post-remission therapy mainly with compound huangdai tablet on long-term survival of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of post-remission therapy mainly with Compound Huangdai Tablet (CHDT) on long-term survival of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twelve APL patients were treated after remission mainly with CHDT administered alternately with chemotherapeutic projects such as HACP, HAOP, HAEP and HAMP. The relapse rate and relapse-free survival (RFS) rate in them were estimated by bone marrow examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total relapse rate was 14.29% (16/112), and the median time of relapse was 12.5 (4-67) months. Patients were followed up for 1-72 months, the median follow-up time being 59 months. The actual RFS rate of 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-year was 92.86%, 89.29%, 88.39%, 87.50%, 86.61% and 85.71%, respectively, while the estimated RFS rate (%) of corresponding year was 92.45 +/- 2.57, 88.25 +/- 3.20, 87.09 +/- 3.36, 85.89 +/- 3.52, 84.44 +/- 3.75 and 82.78 +/- 4.03 respectively; the relapse rate in patients who received treatment after complete response for <10 courses group was 34.29%, while in those treated for > or = 10 courses was 5.19%; and the RFS rate in them was 65.71% and 94.81% respectively, the difference between groups was statistically significant (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The post-remission therapy mainly with CHDT is an effective and feasible program for the treatment of APL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Hematology, 210th Hospital of PLA, Liaoning 116021. tcm210dl@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Xiao-hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Yu-bin
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D012074:Remission Induction; D016019:Survival Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001152:Arsenicals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal