The unique aspects of acute promyelocytic leukemia.

1990 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 1913-1921 ◽  
Author(s):  
R M Stone ◽  
R J Mayer

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) accounts for approximately 10% of cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Distinctive features of this disorder at the time of diagnosis include leukopenia coexisting with a marrow replaced with granulated dysplastic promyelocytes, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, lack of Ia (HLA-DR) antigen expression, and translocation between the long arms of chromosomes 15 and 17 (t[15;17]). Heparin is widely but not universally used to interfere with the coagulopathy during the initial phases of treatment. Serial bone marrow examinations during the induction period demonstrate the achievement of remission despite the persistence of malignant-appearing promyelocytes. Patients with APL are generally younger than those with other subtypes of AML, have a 70% to 80% likelihood of entering remission, and are thought to have a more favorable prognosis than other individuals with AML. Remission may be achieved with a conventional anthracycline-cytarabine combination, anthracycline alone, or, apparently, all-trans retinoic acid. Genes potentially important in myeloid differentiation such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and myeloperoxidase are located close to the breakpoint in the t(15;17) but have not been conclusively shown to be rearranged in the translocation. A better understanding of the unique aspects of APL may well shed light on the pathogenetic processes of AML.

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Sobas ◽  
Maria Carme Talarn-Forcadell ◽  
David Martínez-Cuadrón ◽  
Lourdes Escoda ◽  
María J. García-Pérez ◽  
...  

It has been suggested that 1–2% of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) patients present variant rearrangements of retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα) fusion gene, with the promyelocytic leukaemia zinc finger (PLZF)/RARα being the most frequent. Resistance to all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO) has been suggested in PLZF/RARα and other variant APLs. Herein, we analyze the incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of variant APLs reported to the multinational PETHEMA (Programa para el Tratamiento de Hemopatias Malignas) registry, and we perform a systematic review in order to shed light on strategies to improve management of these extremely rare diseases. Of 2895 patients with genetically confirmed APL in the PETHEMA registry, 11 had variant APL (0.4%) (9 PLZF-RARα and 2 NPM1-RARα), 9 were men, with median age of 44.6 years (3 months to 76 years), median leucocytes (WBC) 16.8 × 109/L, and frequent coagulopathy. Eight patients were treated with ATRA plus chemotherapy-based regimens, and 3 with chemotherapy-based. As compared to previous reports, complete remission and survival was slightly better in our cohort, with 73% complete remission (CR) and 73% survival despite a high relapse rate (43%). After analyzing our series and performing a comprehensive and critical review of the literature, strong recommendations on appropriate management of variant APL are not possible due to the low number and heterogeneity of patients reported so far.


Blood ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-212
Author(s):  
Z Arlin ◽  
S Kempin ◽  
R Mertelsmann ◽  
T Gee ◽  
C Higgins ◽  
...  

Remission rates for patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) have improved with the use of anthracyclines and proper management of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. In a prospective randomized trial of chemotherapy in patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia, there were 16 patients with APL. All 7 of the patients receiving the amsacrine-containing regimen and 5 of 9 receiving the daunorubicin- containing regimen achieved a remission. All patients, except 2 of the 3 who underwent bone marrow transplantation, remain alive and in remission from 1+ to 25+ mo. Amsacrine is an effective replacement for daunorubicin in the treatment of APL, and its use does not compromise the favorable remission duration characteristic of APL.


Blood ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.H. Jansen ◽  
M.C. de Ridder ◽  
W.M.C. Geertsma ◽  
C.A.J. Erpelinck ◽  
K. van Lom ◽  
...  

The combined use of retinoic acid and chemotherapy has led to an important improvement of cure rates in acute promyelocytic leukemia. Retinoic acid forces terminal maturation of the malignant cells and this application represents the first generally accepted differentiation-based therapy in leukemia. Unfortunately, similar approaches have failed in other types of hematological malignancies suggesting that the applicability is limited to this specific subgroup of patients. This has been endorsed by the notorious lack of response in acute promyelocytic leukemia bearing the variant t(11;17) translocation. Based on the reported synergistic effects of retinoic acid and the hematopoietic growth factor granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), we studied maturation of t(11;17) positive leukemia cells using several combinations of retinoic acid and growth factors. In cultures with retinoic acid or G-CSF the leukemic cells did not differentiate into mature granulocytes, but striking granulocytic differentiation occurred with the combination of both agents. At relapse, the patient was treated with retinoic acid and G-CSF before reinduction chemotherapy. With retinoic acid and G-CSF treatment alone, complete granulocytic maturation of the leukemic cells occurred in vivo, followed by a complete cytogenetical and hematological remission. Bone marrow and blood became negative in fluorescense in situ hybridization analysis and semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed a profound reduction of promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger–retinoic acid receptor- fusion transcripts. This shows that t(11;17) positive leukemia cells are not intrinsically resistant to retinoic acid, provided that the proper costimulus is administered. These observations may encourage the investigation of combinations of all-trans retinoic acid and hematopoietic growth factors in other types of leukemia.


Blood ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z Arlin ◽  
S Kempin ◽  
R Mertelsmann ◽  
T Gee ◽  
C Higgins ◽  
...  

Abstract Remission rates for patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) have improved with the use of anthracyclines and proper management of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. In a prospective randomized trial of chemotherapy in patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia, there were 16 patients with APL. All 7 of the patients receiving the amsacrine-containing regimen and 5 of 9 receiving the daunorubicin- containing regimen achieved a remission. All patients, except 2 of the 3 who underwent bone marrow transplantation, remain alive and in remission from 1+ to 25+ mo. Amsacrine is an effective replacement for daunorubicin in the treatment of APL, and its use does not compromise the favorable remission duration characteristic of APL.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 91-96
Author(s):  
Adriana Ruiz-Rodriguez ◽  
Lucia ObandoMadrigal ◽  
Ana Lucia Mateus-Vargas

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has shown differences in incidence around the world, it has a characteristic molecular, pathogenic and clinical development mechanism. Despite being a low incidence acute myeloid leukemia (AML) compared to other AML and having a good response to therapy, it continues to be of interest due to the toxicities of its current treatment, to mutations that have shown resistance to those drugs, and to the few possibilities of alternative treatment with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and anthracyclines in the pediatric population. Furthermore, the description of new mutations that originate APL produced by LPA generates new interest in studies that may shed light on their effects on the disease’s incidence, prognoses, and response to treatment. This article aims to review different studies that describe findings of APL in terms of incidences, treatments, side effects, survival, especially in the pediatric population. Different studies propose the use of ATRA - arsenic trioxide (ATO) as the first line of treatment, however, few have been carried out in the pediatric population and the use of ATO is not recommended in children under 5 years of age. On the other hand, the differentiation syndrome (DS) has been d


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Yuta Inagawa ◽  
Yukiko Komeno ◽  
Satoshi Saito ◽  
Yuji Maenohara ◽  
Tetsuro Yamagishi ◽  
...  

A 34-year-old woman was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Chemotherapy was administered following the JALSG APL204 protocol. Induction therapy with all-trans retinoic acid resulted in complete remission on day 49. She developed coccygeal pain from day 18, which spread to the spine and cheekbones and lasted 5 weeks. She had similar bone pain on days 7–10 of the first consolidation therapy and on days 4–12 of the second consolidation therapy. Oral loxoprofen was prescribed for pain relief. On day 33 of the third consolidation, white blood cell and neutrophil counts were 320/μL and 20/μL, respectively. After she developed epigastralgia and hematemesis, she developed septic shock. Gastroendoscopy revealed markedly thickened folds and diffusely damaged mucosa with blood oozing. Computed tomography revealed thickened walls of the antrum and the pylorus. Despite emergency treatments, she died. Bacterial culture of the gastric fluid yielded Enterobacter cloacae and enterococci growth. Collectively, she was diagnosed with phlegmonous gastritis. Retrospective examination of serial bone marrow biopsy specimens demonstrated progressive bone marrow fibrosis, which may have caused prolonged myelosuppression. Thus, evaluation of bone marrow fibrosis by bone marrow biopsy after each treatment cycle might serve as a predictor of persistent myelosuppression induced by chemotherapy.


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