Studies on Treatment of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia With Arsenic Trioxide: Remission Induction, Follow-Up, and Molecular Monitoring in 11 Newly Diagnosed and 47 Relapsed Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Patients

Blood ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 94 (10) ◽  
pp. 3315-3324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Niu ◽  
Hua Yan ◽  
Ting Yu ◽  
Hui-Ping Sun ◽  
Jian-Xiang Liu ◽  
...  

Fifty-eight acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) patients (11 newly diagnosed and 47 relapsed) were studied for arsenic trioxide (As2O3) treatment. Clinical complete remission (CR) was obtained in 8 of 11 (72.7%) newly diagnosed cases. However, As2O3 treatment resulted in hepatic toxicity in 7 cases including 2 deaths, in contrast to the mild liver dysfunction in one third of the relapsed patients. Forty of forty-seven (85.1%) relapsed patients achieved CR. Two of three nonresponders showed clonal evolution at relapse, with disappearance of t(15;17) and PML-RAR fusion gene in 1 and shift to a dominant AML-1-ETO population in another, suggesting a correlation between PML-RAR expression and therapeutic response. In a follow-up of 33 relapsed cases over 7 to 48 months, the estimated disease-free survival (DFS) rates for 1 and 2 years were 63.6% and 41.6%, respectively, and the actual median DFS was 17 months. Patients with white blood cell (WBC) count below 10 × 109/L at relapse had better survival than those with WBC count over 10 × 109/L (P = .038). The duration of As2O3-induced CR was related to postremission therapy, because there was only 2 of 11 relapses in patients treated with As2O3 combined with chemotherapy, compared with 12 of 18 relapses with As2O3 alone (P = .01). Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis in both newly diagnosed and relapsed groups showed long-term use of As2O3 could lead to a molecular remission in some patients. We thus recommend that ATRA be used as first choice for remission induction in newly diagnosed APL cases, whereas As2O3 can be either used as a rescue for relapsed cases or included into multidrug consolidation/maintenance clinical trials.

Blood ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 94 (7) ◽  
pp. 2230-2235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elihu H. Estey ◽  
Francis J. Giles ◽  
Hagop Kantarjian ◽  
Susan O’Brien ◽  
Jorge Cortes ◽  
...  

All-trans retinoic acid administered orally (oral ATRA) may not regularly lead to either molecular complete remissions (CRs) or prolonged hematologic CRs (HCR) unless combined with chemotherapy. Because serum tretinoin concentrations are higher, and maintained longer, after use of liposomal-encapsulated ATRA (lipoATRA) rather than oral ATRA, we investigated lipoATRA monotherapy in newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Patients received lipoATRA 90 mg/m2 every other day for remission induction. The same dose was given 3 times a week until 9 months had elapsed from HCR date. Treatment then stopped. Chemotherapy (idarubicin 12 mg/m2daily days 1-2 for 2 courses) was to be added only if 2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, performed 2 weeks apart, were positive at 3, 6, or 9 months from HCR date. The sensitivity level of the PCR was 10−4. We treated 18 patients (median age, 54 years; median white blood cell [WBC] count 4,500/μL). The HCR rate was 12/18 (67%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 41% to 87%). This rate was similar to that we observed in a previous study using oral ATRA + idarubicin. Nine of 10 patients studied at HCR date were PCR-positive. Subsequently, however, overall (+/− idarubicin) rates of PCR positivity were 0/12 at 3 months, 1/10 at 6 months, 1/7 at 9 and 12 months, and 0/4 at 15 to 17 months. Idarubicin has been added in 3 patients, with this addition occurring at 6 months in 2 patients and at 9 months in 1 patient. Among patients who had not received idarubicin when the PCR was evaluated, 0 of 12 were PCR-positive at 3 months, 1 of 10 was positive at 6 months, 1 of 6 was positive at 9 months, 0 of 4 were positive at 12 months, and 0 of 3 were positive at 15 to 17 months. Morphologic APL has recurred in 1 patient, with a median follow-up time of 13 months in the 11 patients remaining in first CR. The median follow-up time is 9½ months (range, 3 to 17) in the 9 patients who have received only lipoATRA and who remain PCR-negative and in first CR. Our data suggest that lipoATRA is an effective means of producing molecular CR in newly diagnosed APL.


Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 115 (9) ◽  
pp. 1697-1702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Zhou ◽  
Yingmei Zhang ◽  
Jinmei Li ◽  
Xiaoxia Li ◽  
Jinxiao Hou ◽  
...  

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of treatment of pediatric acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with single-agent arsenic trioxide (ATO). A total of 19 children (≤ 15 years of age) with newly diagnosed APL were treated with single-agent ATO for remission induction and postremission therapy. Seventeen of the children (89.5%) achieved complete hematologic remission, and 2 early deaths occurred from intracranial hemorrhage. ATO-induced leukocytosis was observed in 13 (68.4%) patients. Other ATO-related toxicities were minimal and transient. Postremission ATO therapy continued for 3 years; the most common side effect was ATO-induced neutropenia. With a median follow-up of 53 months (range, 23-76 months), the calculated 5-year overall survival and event-free survival were 83.9% and 72.7%, respectively, which are comparable with results achieved by the use of ATRA plus chemotherapy, which is the standard therapy for APL. No chronic arsenic toxicity or second malignancies were found during the follow-up period, and arsenic retention was not significant in patients off treatment more than 24 months. ATO resistance was observed in only 1 patient with a complex karyotype. The results indicate the high efficacy and safety of single-agent ATO regimens in the treatment of children with de novo APL.


2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (20) ◽  
pp. 2753-2757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ardeshir Ghavamzadeh ◽  
Kamran Alimoghaddam ◽  
Shahrbano Rostami ◽  
Seyed Hamidolah Ghaffari ◽  
Mohamad Jahani ◽  
...  

Purpose The long-term follow-up results of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) treated with all-trans retinoic acid and chemotherapy show high cure rates. Several studies have shown high efficacy of single-agent arsenic trioxide in newly diagnosed APL. However, long-term follow-up results are needed. Patients and Methods One hundred ninety-seven patients with newly diagnosed APL were treated with arsenic trioxide 0.15 mg/kg daily intravenous infusion until complete remission (CR). After achieving CR, the patients received one to four more courses of therapy with arsenic trioxide as consolidation and were observed with reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction studies from peripheral blood (to detect of minimal residual disease) every 3 months or until relapse or death. Results The morphologic CR rate was 85.8%. The most common cause of remission failure was early death owing to APL differentiation syndrome (13.2%). The most important prognostic factor for early mortality was a high WBC count at presentation. The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 66.7% ± 4% (SE). Relapse after 5 years in CR was rare. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate by intention-to-treat analysis was 64.4% ± 4%. In patients who achieved CR, OS and DFS were identical. Conclusion The long-term follow-up of newly diagnosed patients with APL treated with single-agent arsenic trioxide shows high rates of DFS and OS.


Blood ◽  
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 ◽  
...  

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.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 2082-2082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vikram Mathews ◽  
Biju George ◽  
Farah Jijina ◽  
Cecil Ross ◽  
Reena Nair ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 2082 Poster Board II-59 Single agent arsenic trioxide (ATO) has proven efficacy in the management of newly diagnosed cases of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). To validate findings of an initial single center experience (Blood 2006:107; 2627) with this low cost, well tolerated, effective regimen, a multicenter study was undertaken in a resource constrained environment. Additionally, in an effort to improve on the earlier experience and study the role of duration of maintenance on reducing late relapses, patients were randomized to 6 vs. 12 months of ATO maintenance (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:NCT00517712). From July, 2004 to December, 2008, 182 patients were initially screened and enrolled based on morphological diagnosis of APL from 7 centers in India. Diagnosis was subsequently confirmed by molecular methods. Twenty seven cases were excluded from analysis (6 RT-PCR negative, 4 IC bleed at diagnosis, 5 septic/pneumonia at diagnosis, 9 withdrew consent prior to randomization and some were treated with other protocols, 1 withdrawn by investigator prior to randomization). Patients were treated with single agent ATO at standard doses (10mg/day for adults and 0.15mg/kg/day for pediatric patients) for up to 60 days in induction; this was followed by a 28 day consolidation after a 4 week break. Four weeks after completion of consolidation patients who were in molecular remission were randomized to 6 vs. 12 months of maintenance therapy with ATO administered for 10 days/month. Hydroxyurea was permitted for control of leucocytosis. Anthracyclines were permitted in induction for patients presenting with or WBC count rising >20×109/L in the first week, >50×109/L in the second week and for those who developed a differentiation syndrome. Of the 155 patients who could be evaluated 136 (87.7%) achieved hematological remission (CHR). One patient had primary induction failure and was removed from the study while the other 18 were induction deaths at a median of 17 days (range: 4 – 69). During induction, 52 (33.5%) patients received an anthracycline and 116 (75%) received hydroxyurea. A differentiation syndrome was documented in 25 (16%) cases and was fatal in one. Grade III/IV non hematological toxicity was seen in 26 (16.7%), which resolved in the majority after discontinuing ATO for a short period. One hundred and thirty six patients were randomized, 64 (47%) and 72 (53%) into a 6 and 12 month maintenance regimen respectively. A protocol change after randomization was done in 3 cases for persistent toxicity. Five (3.6%) patients did not complete the scheduled maintenance regimen due to poor compliance or was discontinued by the investigator. At a median follow up of 24 months, the 3-year Kaplan-Meir estimate of overall survival (OS), event free survival (EFS) and disease free survival (DFS) of the entire cohort was 76.87±4.33%, 71.57±4.64% and 80.69±4.77% respectively. Fourteen patients relapsed, the median time to relapse was 19.3 months (range: 9-51). The baseline characteristics of the two groups (6vs12 months) were not significantly different. Post randomization, the two groups were analyzed on an intention to treat basis. The OS, EFS and DFS of the two groups were not statistically significantly different. There was also no evidence that the group that received 12 months of maintenance had any increased incidence of toxicity. Single agent ATO based regimen as reported previously is well tolerated and results in durable remissions. Longer follow up is required to see if 12 months of maintenance therapy reduces risk of late relapses. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 6556-6556
Author(s):  
Mozaffar Aznab ◽  
Ghobad Salimi ◽  
Jafar Navabi ◽  
Touraj Jouybari ◽  
Mansour Rezaei ◽  
...  

6556 Background: Arsenic trioxide has been used in the first line treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia and also for recurrence after ATRA and chemotherapy. In this study, it we used it in induction of remission and maintenance therapy Methods: Between November 2005 to December 2011, 42 patients admitted in our department with APL diagnosis. There were 27 male and 15 women with a median age of 28 years. Arsenic trioxide started at 0.15 mg/kg intravenous infusion till patient’s bone marrows achieve to complete remission. Then, after 28 days rest, we did consolidation with Arsenic trioxide with the same dosage for 28 more days. We continued treatment with 14 days courses of Arsenic trioxide every 3-4 months for 2 years, as maintenance therapy Results: Four patients died during the first 20 days of treatment. Thirty-eight patients achieved to remission. Two patients refused to continue treatment after achieving to remission and excluded from this study. Thirty-six patients finished whole treatment. After a median follow-up of 54 months, 4 patients died due to disease relapse and one patient relapsed and initiated treatment with Arsenic and ATRA. Five patients faced leukocytosis over 100,000/ml. In these cases we were obligated to discontinue Arsenic for 3-4 days and did chemotherapy by Danourobicin for 2 days. Totally 8 patients died during remission induction and long-term follow up. One year, 3 and 5 years RFS were 97%, 87.1% and 79.4 respectively and we didn’t observe any relapse for patients who remained in remission after 5 years. Finally, 31 patients are alive and free of disease. The overall survival was 79.5% for our cohort. Conclusions: Arsenic trioxide is an effective treatment as the first line therapy for new cases of APL and long term therapy with will reduce the risk of diseases recurrence without any major toxicity in long time.


2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (24) ◽  
pp. 3866-3871 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vikram Mathews ◽  
Biju George ◽  
Ezhilarasi Chendamarai ◽  
Kavitha M. Lakshmi ◽  
Salamun Desire ◽  
...  

Purpose We previously reported our results with a single-agent arsenic trioxide (ATO) –based regimen in newly diagnosed cases of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). The concern remained about the long-term outcome of this well-tolerated regimen. We report our long-term follow-up data on the same cohort. Patients and Methods From January 1998 to December 2004, 72 patients with PML/RARα+ APL were enrolled. All patients were treated with a single-agent ATO regimen. Results Overall 62 (86.1%) achieved a hematologic remission (complete remission). After the initial report, an additional seven patients have relapsed for a total of 13 relapses. There were no additional toxicities to report on follow-up. At a median follow-up 60 months, the 5-year Kaplan-Meier estimate (± SE) of event-free survival, disease-free survival, and overall survival (OS) was 69% ± 5.5%, 80% ± 5.2%, and 74.2% ± 5.2%, respectively. The OS in the good risk group as defined by us remains 100% over this period. Conclusion Single-agent ATO as used in this study in the management of newly diagnosed cases of APL is safe and is associated with durable responses. Results in the low-risk group are comparable to that reported with conventional therapy while additional interventions would probably be required in high-risk cases.


1997 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 483-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Estey ◽  
P F Thall ◽  
S Pierce ◽  
H Kantarjian ◽  
M Keating

PURPOSE To determine the effect of omission of cytarabine (ara-C) from treatment of newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), which allows administration of more anthracycline. PATIENTS AND METHODS Induction consisted of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) 45 mg/m2 daily until complete remission (CR) and idarubicin 12 mg/m2 daily for 4 days beginning on day 5 of ATRA. Patients in CR received two courses of idarubicin 12 mg/m2 daily for 3 days and then, until 2 years post-CR date, alternated three cycles of mercaptopurine, vincristine, methotrexate, and prednisone (POMP) with one cycle of idarubicin 12 mg/m2 daily for 2 days. Results in the 43 patients treated (41 with t(15;17) on standard or Southern analysis) were compared with those in 57 historic newly diagnosed APL patients given ara-C with either doxorubicin, amsacrine (AMSA), or daunorubicin without ATRA, using logistic and Cox regression to assess effects of non-treatment-related covariates on patient outcomes. RESULTS The CR rate in the current group was 77% (95% confidence interval [CI], 62% to 88%) and was not significantly different from the historic rate. In contrast, disease-free survival (DFS) in CR is superior in the current group (probability at 1 year 0.87; 95% CI, 0.73 to 1.0). This has translated into superior overall DFS for the current group (P = .03 adjusting for the predictive covariates initial WBC and platelet count; 1-year DFS probability 0.67; 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.82; median follow-up 102 weeks). The current treatment appears better both in patients with and without t(15; 17) on standard cytogenetic analysis. CONCLUSION Given the difficulties inherent in comparing sequential studies and recognizing the multiple differences in treatment between current and historic groups, our results suggest that a large randomized trial incorporating use of ATRA should assess the utility of omitting ara-C from treatment of newly diagnosed APL, thus allowing delivery of more anthracycline.


2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 6571-6571
Author(s):  
S. H. Ghaffari ◽  
S. Rostami ◽  
D. Bashash ◽  
K. Alimoghaddam ◽  
A. Ghavamzadeh

6571 Background: Recently, patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) have experienced significant clinical gains after treatment with arsenic trioxide (As2O3). However, the potential role for use of this agent as a front-line therapy for newly diagnosed patients is unclear. Methods: From 95 patients with APL, 85 patients who achieved complete remission (CR) were sequentially evaluated during 4–60 months period of follow-up by conventional RT-PCR. A total of 30 patients (6 relapsed and 24 in continued long remission) were selected and monitored by quantitative real-time PCR (RQ-PCR) assay. Using ‘Hybridization Probes‘ technology, the expression of PML-RARα/G6PDH transcript ratio was analyzed in serial PB samples taken at different courses of disease and the results were compared with the clinical outcome. Results: More than 90% of patients obtained molecular remission, as determined by conventional RT-PCR in 1–3 months after start of arsenic therapy. RQ-PCR analyses showed a rapid rate of clearance of PML-RARα/G6PDH transcript level during the courses of arsenic therapy. In majority of the patients in CR the level of PML-RARα/ G6PDH ratio was always below 5×102 in PB samples. In all the relapsed cases with follow-up intervals of 1–6 months (median 3) clinical relapse was predictable by increasing transcript level above this threshold. Conclusions: Using a sensitive and quantitative method provided valuable information about effectiveness of arsenic as a front-line therapy in the management of newly diagnosed APL. Our study highlights the usefulness of PB and the definition of threshold level for early prediction of relapse. The threshold level correlates well with relapse risk; therefore, transcript ratio below the level should be regarded as a goal in the clinical management of this disease. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 1085-1085
Author(s):  
Alireza Eghtedar ◽  
Stefan Faderl ◽  
Hagop Kantarjian ◽  
Susan O'Brien ◽  
Guillermo Garcia-Manero ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 1085 Background: Progress in the treatment of patients (pts) with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with the use of modern all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)-containing regimens has resulted in the majority of pts achieving long-term disease-free survival. There is little data on the incidence and patterns of secondary neoplasms in pts treated with these regimens. Objective: To compare the incidence of secondary neoplasms in pts with APL treated with two different ATRA-containing regimens. Methods: We retrospectively examined the charts of 160 pts with APL treated with ATRA plus chemotherapy (n=54) or ATRA plus arsenic trioxide (ATO)(n=106) as their initial induction regimen at the University of Texas – M. D. Anderson Cancer Center from 1991 to 2009. Twenty seven (17%) pts had a remote history of a prior unrelated cancer. Pt characteristics and the incidence of secondary cancers per unit time of follow-up were compared. Results: The median age at diagnosis of the entire population was 44 years (range, 13 – 81) and the median age for the chemotherapy plus ATRA group was 38 years (range, 13–67) vs. 46 years (range, 14 – 81) for the pts treated with ATO plus ATRA (p= 0.001). Thirty (55%) and 54 (50.9%) in each cohort were women (p=0.52) and 2 (3.7%) and 26 (24.5%) were older than 60 years of age, respectively (p= 0.001). Twenty (37%) and 30 (28.3%) had high risk disease (WBC > 10 × 109/l)(p= 0.3), and 34 (62.9%) and 76 (71.6%) had low risk disease (WBC ≤ 10 × 109/l), respectively. Fifty one (94.4%) and 105 (99%) pts treated using the two regimens achieved a CR. The median follow-up time for the two cohorts was 136 and 29 months [ranges, (5 to 193) and (1 to 93), respectively]. Nine and 2 pts in the two groups developed secondary cancers including 2 breast cancers, 3 MDS/AML, 1 vulvar cancer, 1 prostate cancer, 1 colon cancer and 1 soft tissue sarcoma in the chemotherapy group vs. 1 melanoma and 1 pancreatic cancer in ATO group. The cumulative incidence of secondary cancers in the two cohorts is shown in figure 1. Conclusion: Treatment of pts with APL using the non-chemotherapy regimen of ATRA plus ATO is not associated with a higher incidence of secondary cancers (p=0.29) adjusted for unit time exposure. Disclosures: Off Label Use: Use of arsenic trioxide in frontline therapy of APL. Ravandi:Cephalon: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document