Adding Arsenic Trioxide to All-Trans Retinoic Acid for Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Low- and intermediate-risk APL patients had fewer relapses and improved survival versus standard ATRA plus chemotherapy.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a unique subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that is highly curable with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) plus anthracycline-based cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Given the very high activity of arsenic trioxide in relapsed APL, European investigators conducted a prospective, multicenter, randomized, open-label, phase III noninferiority trial comparing induction therapy with ATRA plus arsenic trioxide (AA) versus ATRA plus chemotherapy (AC) in 263 evaluable patients with newly diagnosed, low- or

intermediate-risk APL (median age, 46.6 years). Consolidation therapy was administered in each study arm, but maintenance therapy was given only to those randomized to AC. Remission status was monitored with reverse tra…

Reviewing Author

Michael E. Williams, MD, ScM

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAbbVie; AstraZeneca; Beigene; Janssen; Pharmacyclics

Grant/Research SupportJanssen

Editorial BoardsAmerican Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Hematology Longitudinal Knowledge Approval Committee

Michael E. Williams, MD, ScM

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAbbVie; AstraZeneca; Beigene; Janssen; Pharmacyclics

Grant/Research SupportJanssen

Editorial BoardsAmerican Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Hematology Longitudinal Knowledge Approval Committee

Adding Arsenic Trioxide to All-Trans Retinoic Acid for Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

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Reviewing Author