ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the efficacy of arsenic trioxide(ATO) combined all trans retinoic acid (ATRA) versus cytara‐bine (Ara‐C) combined ATRA in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia(APL) .Methods We enrolled 65 patients in our department during the period between January 2002 and August 2008 ,and they were randomly assigned to receive ATRA combined ATO (treatment group ,n= 27) or ATRA combined DA ,HA ,NA which were major of Ara‐C (control group ,n= 38) .Then observe the differences of between the two groups ,such as complete remission(CR) ,the time to complete remission ,overall survival(OS) ,e‐vent free survival(EFS) ,the 5 years disease free survival (DFS) and adverse reactions .Results The CR rate of treatment group (ATRA + ATO) and control group (chemotherapy + ATRA) was 81 .48% and 68 .42% ,respectively ,and the time to complete re‐mission was (28 .50 ± 3 .97)d and (30 .56 ± 2 .39)d ,respectively ,showed that there was no statistical difference between the two groups ( P > 0 .05 ) .The 5 years DFS of the CR patients in the two groups was 51 .9% (ATRA + ATO ) and 50 .0%(Chemotherapy + ATRA) ,respectively ,showed that there was no statistical difference between the two groups(P > 0 .05) .The 5 years EFS of the CR patients in the two groups was 48 .1% and 39 .5% ,respectively ,showed that there was no statistical difference between the two groups(P> 0 .05) .The 5 years DFS of the patients in the two groups was 55 .6% and 67 .6% ,respectively ,showed that there was no statistical difference between the two groups(P > 0 .05) .Bone marrow suppression in the treatment group was significantly lower than in the control group(P< 0 .05) .Conclusion ATRA + ATO can prolong the CR rate ,OS ,EFS and 5 years EFS of newly diagnosed APL patients .ATRA combined with chemotherapy has similar efficacy ,ATRA + ATO has lower bone marrow suppression than the ATRA combined with chemotherapy ,thus may reduce the risk of early death .