Preliminary observation of the combination of arsenic trioxide and all-trans retinoic acid for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia / 中华血液学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the efficacy and side effect of the all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) combination in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty APL patients were treated with the ATRA and As(2)O(3) combination, and 18 of them could be evaluated. The treatment protocol was as following 10 mg As(2)O(3) (0.1% solution) in 500 ml 50 g/L glucose solution for intravenous drip over 4 to 6 hours once a day, ATRA was given 25 mg/m(2) every day.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Seventeen of the 18 patients achieved complete remission (CR), the CR rate was 94.4%. All 14 newly diagnosed patients and 3 of 4 relapsed patients achieved CR. No significant side effect was observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The As(2)O(3) and ATRA in the treatment of APL can obtain a higher CR rate and a shorter duration for achieving CR.</p>