Korean J Med.  2008 Jun;74(6):593-595.

Remission induction using arsenic trioxide in acute promyelocytic leukemia

• Min CK

Abstract

In acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) triggers cell differentiation, while arsenic trioxide (ATO) generates partial differentiation and apoptosis. Standard initial treatment for patients with APL consists of chemotherapy, usually an anthracycline, and ATRA. It now appears that it is important to administer consolidation chemotherapy and to include ATRA in both the induction and maintenance phases of treatment. ATO, which is rarely associated with cardiac toxicity, has been shown to be the best reported salvage therapy for patients with APL who relapse following an initial remission. Moreover, ATO treatment can yield a high quality clinical/molecular remission and disease-free survival in relapsed as well as newly diagnosed APL patients. ATO may be effective as first-line treatment for APL, even though the results of ATO combination therapy with chemotherapy/ATRA requires further study.

Keyword

Acute promyelocytic leukemia; Remission induction; All-trans retinoic acid; Arsenic trioxide

MeSH Terms

Apoptosis
Arsenic
Arsenicals
Cell Differentiation
Consolidation Chemotherapy
Disease-Free Survival
Humans
Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute
Oxides
Recurrence
Remission Induction
Salvage Therapy
Tretinoin
Arsenic
Arsenicals
Oxides
Tretinoin