[Effects of all-trans retinoic acid and compound huangdai tablet sequential maintenance treatment on the long-term efficacy of acute promyelocytic leukemia patients].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the difference in the long-term efficacy between all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) combined Compound Huangdai Tablet and ATRA combined methotrexate (MTX) and 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) as the sequential maintenance treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) patients.


METHODS
Totally 83 APL patients in the molecular remission (PML/RARalpha negative) were randomly assigned to two groups, the treatment group (45 cases) and the control group (38 cases) after they were induced to the complete remission (CR) by ATRA combined chemotherapy, and treated by sequential chemotherapy as the consolidated treatment for 3 therapeutic courses. Those in the treatment group were sequentially treated with ATRA and Compound Huangdai Tablet as maintenance therapy, while those in the control group were treated with ATRA and MTX + 6MP as maintenance therapy. After a long-term follow-up (2003 -2011), the long-term therapeutic efficacy and adverse reactions were compared between the two therapeutic regimens.


RESULTS
The 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS) rate was 84.4% +/- 5.4% in the treatment group and 63.2% +/- 7.8% in the control group, showing statistical difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The 5-year overall survival rate (OSR) was 86.7% +/- 5. 1% in the treatment group and 78.7% +/- 6.7% in the control group, showing no statistical difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the adverse reaction between the two groups (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The application of ATRA and Compound Huangdai Tablet as maintenance therapy could elevate the long-term RFS rate of APL patients.
Department of Pediatrics, Cangzhou Center Hospital, Hebei.
Jing-Xin
JX
Gong
Jian-Bo
JB
Meng
Yue
Y
Ma
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D015122:Mercaptopurine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D014212:Tretinoin; D015122:Mercaptopurine; D008727:Methotrexate