Oral Arsenic Plus Retinoic Acid Versus Intravenous Arsenic Plus Retinoic Acid for Non-High Risk Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract Objective Intravenous arsenic trioxide (ATO) plus all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) without chemotherapy is the standard of care for non high-risk acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), resulting in cure rates exceeding 95%. Pilot study of treatment with oral arsenic named the Realgar-Indigo naturalis formula (RIF) plus ATRA without chemotherapy has shown high efficacy, convenient and economical. This randomized, multicenter, phase 3 noninferiority trial was designed to test the efficacy and safety of an oral RIF and ATRA compared with intravenous ATO for newly diagnosed non high-risk APL patients. Methods We conducted a phase 3, multicenter trial comparing RIF plus ATRA with ATO plus ATRA in patients with non high-risk APL (white-cell count, ≤10×109 per liter) between 2014 and 2017. In all, 109 patients were randomly assigned (2:1) to oral RIF (60 mg/kg) plus ATRA (25 mg/m2) or ATO (0.16mg/kg) plus ATRA (25 mg/m2) as induction therapy until complete hematologic remission. Postremission therapy included RIF or ATO on a schedule of 4 weeks on and 4 weeks off and ATRA on a schedule of 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off for 7 months. The study was designed as a noninferiority trial to show that the difference between the rates of event-free survival (EFS) at 2 years in the two groups was not greater than 10%. Results Complete remission was achieved in all 69 patients in the RIF-ATRA group who could be evaluated (3 withdraw during the induction) and in 34 of 36 patients in the ATO-ATRA group (2 died and another one withdraw during the induction) (100% vs. 94.4%, p= 0.12). The median follow-up was 32 months. Two-year EFS rates were 97.1% in the RIF-ATRA group (n=69) and 94.4% in the ATO-ATRA group (n=36). The EFS rate difference was 2.7% (95% CI,-5.8% to11.1%). The lower limit of the 95%CI for EFS rate difference was greater than-10% noninferiority margin, confirming noninferiority (noninferiority P=0.0017). There is no difference about relapse rate and overall survival between two groups (all p >0.05). Conclusions RIF plus ATRA is not inferior to ATO plus ATRA in the treatment of patients with non high-risk APL (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry number, ChiCTR-TRC-13004054). Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Realgar Indigo Formula Plus ATRA As Postremission Treatment in an Rral and Chemo-Free Model for High-Risk Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Patients: A Prospective, Multicenter, Phase II Study

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2021-149141 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 873-873

Author(s):

Hong-hu Zhu ◽

Ya-fang Ma ◽

Suning Chen ◽

Ying Lu ◽

Jiang Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Retinoic Acid ◽

High Risk ◽

Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽

Phase Ii ◽

Divided Dose ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽

Free Survival ◽

Free Model

Abstract Background: Low-risk patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) can be cured using only ATRA and arsenic trioxide (ATO), without chemotherapy(Lo-Coco F, et al. NEJM 2013) .Our group simplified the protocol by replacing iv ATO with oral arsenic, referred to as RIF, allowing for outpatient, oral and chemotherapy-free treatment for an increasing number of APL patients (Zhu HH, et al. NEJM 2014; 371:2239-41;Zhu HH, et al. Lancet Oncol 2018;19:871-879; Zhu HH, et al. Blood 2019;134:597-605). We also reported a promising single-center results using chemo-free postremission treatment for high-risk APL patients (Zhu HH, Blood 2018;131:2987-2989), which need to be confirmed in a well designed multi-center trial. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of safety Realgar indigo formula plus retinoic acid as postremission treatment in an oral and chemo-free model for high-risk APL patients . Design, setting and participants: a prospective, multicenter, single-arm, phase II clinical trial conducted in the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine, China. Eligible patients (>18 years old) with newly diagnosed APL and achieved complete remission(CR) were enrolled since May 2019, with final follow-up in July 31,2021. Interventions: The consolidation therapy included realgar-Indigo naturalis formula (60 mg/kg daily in an oral divided dose) in a 4-week-on and4-week-off regimen for 4 cycles and ATRA (25 mg/m 2 daily in anoral divided dose) in a 2-week-on and 2-week-off regimen for 7 cycles. The primary endpoint was the 2-year DFS. Secondary endpoints included complete molecular remission (CMR) defined as the absence of detectable PML-RARA transcripts., event-free survival (EFS), OS, and safety. Main outcomes and measures: 38 eligible patients were enrolled including 18 males and 20 females and the median age was 41 years old (18-77 years). The median of WBC count is 25.39（10.2-113.9）×109/L[ >50×10 9/L n=10; (20-50)×10 9/L n=14，(10-20)×10 9/L n=14].All the patients achieved CMR during post-remission treatment phase (7 months). Until now, no molecular, hematologic recurrence,and central nervous system leukemia has happened with median follow-up of 13 months. What's more, this chemotherapy-free, completely oral regimen was well tolerated. C onclusions: These exciting results proved that RIF plus retinoic acid as postremission treatment of high-risk APL was effective, safe and convenient. The study is ongoing, and the effective of this regimen need to be evaluated by more patients and longer time. Figure 1. The overall survival(OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of high-risk APL patients. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Treatment of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) At Tawam Hospital UAE

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v120.21.4347.4347 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 120 (21) ◽

pp. 4347-4347

Author(s):

Arif Alam ◽

Harimohan Narayanan ◽

Shanaaz Sonday ◽

Sabir Hussain ◽

Amar Lal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Retinoic Acid ◽

High Risk ◽

Supportive Care ◽

Arsenic Trioxide ◽

Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Early Death ◽

Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽

Published Data ◽

Female Ratio

Abstract Abstract 4347 Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) is a unique sub-type of Acute Myeloid leukemia associated with a balanced reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 15 and 17 and 80% of the cases present with bleeding diathesis caused by severe coagulopathy. The translocation generates a fusion transcript joining the PML(promyelocyte) and RAR-α (retinoic acid receptor-α) genes. The therapy of APL has been revolutionized by the introduction of differentiating agents All Trans Retinoic Acid (ATRA) and Arsenic Trioxide. All patients were treated as per Pethema protocol. Initially LPA99 (Sanz MA. Blood. 1999 Nov 1;94(9):3015-21) and since January 2012 a risk adapted therapy based on LPA2005 (Sanz MA et al. Blood June 24, 2010 vol. 115 no. 25 5137–5146). Treatment included induction followed by 3 cycles of consolidation and two years of maintenance. Nineteen patients were diagnosed with APL between January 2009 and June 2012. Three patients are excluded from the analysis as karyotyping and/or PCR did not confirm the diagnosis. The median age was 35 years (range 22–53 years). Male to female ratio was 4:1. Nine (56%) patients were stratified as high risk (WBC ≥ 10 ×109/l) while, seven (44%) as intermediate risk and low risk (WBC < 10 ×109/l). Three (19%) patients had early death despite treatment and supportive care. The cause of death was intracranial hemorrhage (1) pulmonary hemorrhage (1) and multi-organ failure (1). Thirteen patients achieved a complete morphological and molecular remission (80%). There has been only 1 case of treatment failure (high risk at presentation). This patient was successfully re-induced with arsenic trioxide and achieved second molecular complete remission. Unfortunately he relapsed a second time and is currently alive in third morphological remission but remains PCR positive for PML/RARα 33 months after diagnosis. Our limited experience shows favorable outcome (CR 80%) for the treatment of APL using the Pethema protocol compared to published data (Tallman MS. Blood 2002;99(3):759–767). Early death rate remains high despite intensive supportive care. The only variable is the availability and initiation of ATRA at the clinical suspicion of diagnosis both at the referring hospitals and treatment center. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Remission in Patients with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Treated with Arsenic Trioxide (varitrinox) As the First Line in Colombia

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2020-137143 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 3-3

Author(s):

Gustavo Milone ◽

Samuel Sarmiento Doncel ◽

Carol Agudelo Rico ◽

Fabiola Vizcarra Reyes ◽

Gina Alejandra Diaz Mosquera ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Arsenic Trioxide ◽

Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽

Remission Induction ◽

Intermediate Risk ◽

Newly Diagnosed ◽

First Line ◽

Risk Patients

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a subtype of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in which a chromosomal translocation t (15; 17) (q22; q12) is generated by fusing produces a hybrid PML / RARα gene, generating an altered signal . The combination of transretinoic acid (ATRA) plus arsenic trioxide (ATO) has been shown to be superior to ATRA plus chemotherapy in the treatment of newly diagnosed standard risk patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in several countries. The objective of the present study is to describe the frequency of remission in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia who were administered as a first line Arsenic Trioxide (varitrinox) during the period from November 2017 to June 2020 in Colombian patients. Methods: Retrospective observational and descriptive study of 12 patients diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia treated with ATO Arsenic trioxide (Varitrinox) as first line, the source of information was provided by the treating hematologists (medical records) by filling out the technical concept format. Active pharmacovigilance scientist in Colombia, this format keeps the identification information of the patient anonymized and the confidentiality of the data is guaranteed as well as compliance with the rules of good clinical practice. Results: Twelve patients with age range between 22 and 69 years with a median age of 34.0 were analyzed. It was found in the analysis that 100% had induction hematologic remission with a median of 45 days. 75% of patients received ATO + ATRA and were at low and intermediate risk, the remaining 25% received ATRA + ATO + Chemotherapy and were at high risk, and intermediate risk. 91.7% of molecular remission in consolidation was obtained and it was measured in cycle 3 by means of PCR (undetectable), 8.3% (n = 1) was positive 3% and is finishing consolidation. Regarding the most frequent adverse events, intravascular coagulation (n = 9), neutropenia (n = 6) and thrombocytopenia (n = 6) were observed. 75% of patients are disease-free, 16.7% are on maintenance (they received ATO + ATRA + Induction chemotherapy) and 8.3% are on consolidation. So far, none of the patients under study have died. Conclusions: Our results support the use of ATO (Varitrinox) in newly diagnosed APL patients (as first line), as a care strategy for low, intermediate and high risk patients. The role of ATRA-ATO is guaranteed in other studies where they manage patients of different risks. Key words: Arsenic trioxide, leukemia promyelocytic acute, leukemia myeloid acute, remission induction, tretinoin. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Oral arsenic and all-trans retinoic acid for high-risk acute promyelocytic leukemia

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2018-02-834051 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 131 (26) ◽

pp. 2987-2989 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Hong-Hu Zhu ◽

Yan-Rong Liu ◽

Jin-Song Jia ◽

Ya-Zhen Qin ◽

Xiao-Su Zhao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Retinoic Acid ◽

High Risk ◽

Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽

Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽

Trans Retinoic Acid ◽

All Trans Retinoic Acid

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Preliminary Results of a Consolidation Therapy Consisting Single Anthracycline Agent and Alternative All-Trans Retinoic Acid in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v118.21.4284.4284 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 118 (21) ◽

pp. 4284-4284

Author(s):

Zhang Jie ◽

Xiaojian Meng ◽

Zhen Cai ◽

Xiujin Ye ◽

He Huang

Keyword(s):

Retinoic Acid ◽

Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽

De Novo ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽

Consolidation Therapy ◽

Preliminary Results ◽

Trans Retinoic Acid ◽

All Trans Retinoic Acid

Abstract Abstract 4284 Background: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with distinctive biologic and clinical features that is now highly curable. However, there are complicated issues in treatment strategies for induction, consolidation and maintenance that remain to be studied. The optimal regimen and the duration of consolidation is one of the above controversies. Patients and methods: Six patients (4 males, 2 females) were enrolled in this observation with a median age of 28 years (18–36). All were diagnosed de novo APL with demonstration of the abnormal increased promyelocytes of 53–90% accompanied with detection of t(15;17) or PML/RARα rearrangements. At diagnosis, WBC counts were 0.9–4.6×109/L and platelet counts were 13–84×109/L. Induction therapy was composed of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) with or without anthracycline or homoharritonine. After achieving complete remission (CR) following the above regimens, consolidation therapy was given monthly consisting single anthracycline agent of idarubincin (8–10 mg/m2/d, day 1–3) or aclarubicin (8–12 mg/m2/d, day 1–7) and alternative ATRA (25 mg/m2/d, day 1–15). After 12–18 months of consolidation, patients received maintenance therapy including methotrexate (12 mg/m2/d, per week) plus 6 mercaptopurine (30 mg/m2/d, qod ×12 days) and alternative ATRA (25 mg/m2/d, day 1–15) for one year. Results and conclusions: At present, all of the six patients are in continuous CR status, four of whom ceased treatment and are undergoing regular monitoring. Preliminary results from our experience demonstrates that single anthracycline and alternative ATRA can act as a valid option with limited toxicity for APL and might be used as a consolidation strategy, particularly for low and intermediate-risk patients. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Effective Treatment of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia With All-Trans-Retinoic Acid, Arsenic Trioxide, and Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2008.18.6130 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 504-510 ◽

Cited By ~ 248

Author(s):

Farhad Ravandi ◽

Eli Estey ◽

Dan Jones ◽

Stefan Faderl ◽

Susan O'Brien ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Retinoic Acid ◽

High Risk ◽

Arsenic Trioxide ◽

Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽

Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin ◽

Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽

Platelet Recovery ◽

Trans Retinoic Acid ◽

All Trans Retinoic Acid

Purpose We examined the outcome of patients with newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) treated with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO) with or without gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) but without traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy. Patients and Methods From February 2002 to March 2008, 82 patients with APL were treated with a combination of ATRA plus ATO. The first cohort of 65 patients received ATRA and ATO (beginning on day 10 of ATRA). High-risk patients (WBCs ≥ 10 × 109/L) received GO on the first day. From July 2007, the second cohort of 17 patients received ATRA and ATO concomitantly on day 1. They also received GO on day 1, if high risk, and if their WBC increased to more than 30 × 109/L during induction. Monitoring for PML-RARA fusion gene was conducted after induction and throughout consolidation and follow-up. Results Overall, 74 patients achieved complete remission (CR) and one achieved CR without full platelet recovery after the induction, for a response rate of 92%. Seven patients died at a median of 4 days (range, 1 to 24 days) after inclusion in the study from disease-related complications. The median follow-up is 99 weeks (range, 2 to 282 weeks). Among the responding patients, three experienced relapse at 39, 52, and 53 weeks. Three patients died after being in CR for 14, 21, and 71 weeks, all from a second malignancy. The estimated 3-year survival rate is 85%. Conclusion The combination of ATRA and ATO (with or without GO) as initial therapy for APL was effective and safe and can substitute chemotherapy-containing regimens.

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Walking a Tightrope: Dosage Modifications and Treatment Outcomes of All-Trans-Retinoic Acid, Arsenic Trioxide, and Daunorubicin for High-Risk Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

JCO Global Oncology ◽

10.1200/go.20.00226 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1749-1756

Author(s):

Madhav Danthala ◽

Krishna Reddy Golamari ◽

Arun Seshachalam ◽

Anupama Mikkilineni ◽

Sitalata Chappidi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Retinoic Acid ◽

High Risk ◽

Arsenic Trioxide ◽

Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Standard Of Care ◽

Drug Dosage ◽

Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽

Trans Retinoic Acid ◽

All Trans Retinoic Acid

PURPOSE The use of all- trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO) in the treatment of low- and intermediate-risk acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is the standard of care. We report the combined use of ATRA, ATO, and daunorubicin (DNR) in patients newly diagnosed with high-risk APL. The primary focus was to describe the drug dosage modifications made in the real-world scenario. METHODS In this descriptive study, we included 16 out of 28 patients with high-risk APL from two tertiary care centers in South India (Vijayawada and Trichy) between January 2015 and December 2018. A unique approach of initiating ATRA at a dose of 25 mg/m2 on day 1 and escalation to 45 mg/m2 after cytoreduction with DNR and hydroxyurea was followed in all patients to avert differentiation syndrome, in the setting of hyperleukocytosis at presentation. RESULTS All patients who survived the first 3 days of admission achieved complete remission after a median duration of 29 days. There were no deaths during induction or consolidation, and the regimen was well tolerated; two patients developed grade 3/4 peripheral neuropathy requiring treatment modification. After a median follow-up duration of 1.9 years, there were no hematologic or molecular relapses. CONCLUSION The study sheds light on the modifications made to recommended dosages of ATRA, ATO, and DNR to optimize outcomes in high-risk APL and reaffirms the importance of ATO use in the front-line setting to achieve durable responses with minimal toxicity.

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Treatment with All-Trans Retinoic Acid and Anthracycline Monochemotherapy in Children with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: Analysis of Three Sequential Multicenter Trials of the PETHEMA Group

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v112.11.137.137 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 112 (11) ◽

pp. 137-137

Author(s):

Luis Madero ◽

Pau Montesinos ◽

Pilar Bastida ◽

Amparo Verdeguer ◽

Javier De la Serna ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Retinoic Acid ◽

High Risk ◽

Maintenance Therapy ◽

Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽

Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽

Consolidation Therapy ◽

Trans Retinoic Acid ◽

All Trans Retinoic Acid ◽

Risk Patients ◽

High Degree

Abstract The combination of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and anthracycline-based chemotherapy has been adopted as the standard treatment for children and adults with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). However, information about therapy results in pediatric APL patients is scarce, particularly on long-term outcomes. A previous report of the PETHEMA Group (Ortega et al, JCO 2005) showed that a risk-adapted strategy combining a reduced dose of ATRA (25 mg/m2/d) and anthracycline monochemotherapy for induction and consolidation, followed by ATRA and low dose methotrexate and mercaptopurine for maintenance therapy, produced high antileukemic efficacy, moderate toxicity, and a high degree of compliance. We have now performed an updated analysis of a significantly enlarged cohort of 107 consecutive children (younger than 19 years) with APL who were enrolled in three sequential trials of the PETHEMA Group (LPA96, LPA99 and LPA2005) and followed up for a median of 71 months (range, 3–139). Induction consisted of 25 mg/m2 ATRA daily until CR and 12 mg/m2 idarubicin on days 2, 4, 6 and 8. In the LPA96 trial, patients in CR received three monthly chemotherapy courses: idarubicin 5 mg/m2/d × 4 (course #1), mitoxantrone 10 mg/m2/d × 5 (course #2), and idarubicin 12 mg/m2/d × 1 (course #3). Since November 1999 (LPA99 trial), for patients with intermediate or high risk of relapse (Sanz et al, Blood 2000), consolidation was slightly intensified by increasing idarubicin doses in courses #1 and #3, and by simultaneously administering 25 mg/m2 ATRA together with chemotherapy in all three courses. Since July 2005, consolidation therapy in the ongoing LPA 2005 trial included the following modifications: the administration of ATRA for all patients; for low- and intermediate-risk patients, mitoxantrone has been reduced from five to three days in the second course; and for high-risk patients, cytarabine has been added to idarubicin in the first and third course. Maintenance therapy consisted of 50 mg/m2/d mercaptopurine orally, 15 mg/m2/week methotrexate intramuscularly, and 25 mg/m2/d ATRA for 15 days every three months. Of 1031 patients enrolled in three subsequent PETHEMA trials between November 1996 and July 2008, 107 (10%) from 43 Institutions were aged less than 19 years. WBC counts were >10×09/l and >50×109/l in 36 (34%) and 10 (9%), respectively; morphologically, 22 (22%) cases were hypergranular; PML/RARA isoform type was BCR1 or BCR2 in 47 (57%), and BCR3 in 35 (43%). One-hundred and one patients achieved CR (94%). In general, toxicity was manageable during consolidation and maintenance therapy. One patient died in CR during consolidation due to hepatic failure. At the end of consolidation, only 2 patients of 86 patients tested had molecular persistence (defined by positive RT-PCR of PML/RARA at 10−4 sensitivity). Ten additional relapses were observed, 5 molecular and 5 clinical relapses. Apart from 2 clinical relapses and 2 molecular relapses, all these events occurred among high risk patients. The 5-year Kaplan-Meier estimates of overall, disease-free and relapse-free survival were 89%, 86% and 86%, respectively. These results show a higher incidence of hyperleucocytosis in pediatric patients than in adults with genetically proven APL (p=0.05) and confirm the high antileukemic efficacy, low toxicity and high degree of compliance of three subsequent PETHEMA trials using a risk-adapted strategy with ATRA and anthracycline-based chemotherapy for induction and consolidation therapy.

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