All trans-retinoic acid decreases early mortality in patients with promyelocytic leukemia and can be given entirely on an outpatient basis

• Published in: American journal of hematology 1999-11, Vol.62 (3), p.139-143
• Main Authors: RUIZ-ARGÜELLES, G. J, LOBATO-MENDIZABAL, E, DELGADO-LAMAS, J. L, GOMEZ-ALMAGUER, D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Ambulatory Care; Antineoplastic agents; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Chemotherapy; Child; Disease-Free Survival; Female; Humans; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute - drug therapy; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Prospective Studies; Remission Induction; Tretinoin - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0361-8609; 1096-8652
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1096-8652(199911)62:3<139::AID-AJH2>3.3.CO;2-6

The results of the treatment of 43 patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (PML) are reported: 27 were treated initially with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), whereas 16 were treated with conventional chemotherapy. All patients received myelosuppressive chemotherapy after the initial treatment. Respectively, the complete remission rate was 92% and 37% (P < 0.01), the 5-day mortality rate was 0% and 44% (P < 0.001), and the 28-day mortality rate was 4% and 44% (P < 0.001). The median disease-free survival was 12 and 1 months (P < 0.01), whereas the 12-month disease-free survival was 50% and 13% (P < 0.01) and the 36-month disease-free survival was 41% and 9% (P < 0.01). Thirteen of the patients treated with ATRA were given the treatment fully as outpatients. ATRA given as initial therapy decreased significantly early mortality in promyelocytic leukemia patients; because some promyelocytic leukemia patients given ATRA as initial therapy can be treated as outpatients, the costs of this treatment modality may be diminished.