Acute promyelocytic leukemia: Where did we start, where are we now, and the future Journal Article


Authors: Coombs, C. C.; Tavakkoli, M.; Tallman, M. S.
Article Title: Acute promyelocytic leukemia: Where did we start, where are we now, and the future
Abstract: Historically, acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) was considered to be one of the most fatal forms of acute leukemia with poor outcomes before the introduction of the vitamin A derivative all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). With considerable advances in therapy, including the introduction of ATRA initially as a single agent and then in combination with anthracyclines, and more recently by development of arsenic trioxide (ATO)-containing regimens, APL is now characterized by complete remission rates of 90% and cure rates of ∼80%, even higher among low-risk patients. Furthermore, with ATRA-ATO combinations, chemotherapy may safely be omitted in low-risk patients. The disease is now considered to be the most curable subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in adults. Nevertheless, APL remains associated with a significant incidence of early death related to the characteristic bleeding diathesis. Early death, rather than resistant disease so common in all other subtypes of AML, has emerged as the major cause of treatment failure.
Keywords: treatment failure; antineoplastic agent; antineoplastic combined chemotherapy protocols; pathology; arsenic trioxide; arsenicals; leukemia, promyelocytic, acute; oxides; anthracycline; anthracyclines; retinoic acid; adverse drug reaction; tretinoin; organoarsenic derivative; oxide; humans; human; drug-related side effects and adverse reactions
Journal Title: Blood Cancer Journal
Volume: 5
Issue: 4
ISSN: 2044-5385
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group  
Date Published: 2015-04-01
Start Page: e304
Language: English
DOI: 10.1038/bcj.2015.25
PUBMED: 25885425
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC4450325
DOI/URL:
Notes: Review -- Export Date: 2 May 2016 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Martin Stuart Tallman
    649 Tallman
  2. Catherine C Coombs
    18 Coombs