[Treatment with combined all-trans retinoic acid and anthracycline of 37 children with acute promyelocytic leukemia].
OBJECTIVE
To study the clinical features of childhood acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and to analyze the survival and prognostic factors and efficacy and safety of combined treatment with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and anthracycline.


METHODS
The clinical features of 37 children with newly diagnosed APL hospitalized in our center during January 2005 to February 2009 were retrospectively analyzed.


RESULTS
Thirty percent of patients were at low risk, 43% patients were at intermediate risk, 27% patients were at high risk. Sixty percent of patients had DIC. Retinoic acid syndrome (RAS) was present in 2 patients (6%). Death during induction occurred in 3 patients (8%). Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 83.7% of patients. The patients in high risk group had higher risk than those in intermediate and low risk group (P = 0.029). The time to achieve CR was not significantly different (P = 0.612). Idarubicin had no advantage compared with daunorubicin in time to achieve CR (P = 0.628). Survival rates were calculated using Kaplan-Meier statistical method, and 2 years event-free survival (EFS) rate was 81%, the 2-year EFS rate was 100% for low-risk group, 81% for intermediate-risk group, and 60% for high-risk group.


CONCLUSIONS
Using combined chemotherapy with ATRA and anthracyclines had the following advantages: high CR rate, high long-time survival rate and low side effect. DIC remained the main complication among patients receiving induction treatment. Initial WBC count and platelet count are important prognostic factors which might be useful in prognostication and treatment planning.
Hematology Center, Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100045, China.
Mei
M
Jin
Min-yuan
MY
Wu
Yong-hong
YH
Zhang
Hui-wen
HW
Shi
Jing
J
Xie
Xuan
X
Zhou
Xiao-li
XL
Ma
Run-hui
RH
Wu
D000293:Adolescent; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage
D018943:Anthracyclines; D014212:Tretinoin