Treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia [t(15;17) or PML-RARαpostitive]
| INDUCTION . | ATRA + anthracycline-based chemotherapy . |
|---|---|
| . | (i) anthracycline alone if cannot give ATRA . |
| . | (ii) probably, no need for cytarabline . |
| CONSOLIDATION . | Anthracycline-based chemotherapy x 1 – 2 cycles role of cytarabine unproven . |
| MAINTENANCE . | ATRA ± low-dose chemotherapy . |
| Abbreviations: ATRA, all-trans retinoic acid; PBSC, peripheral blood stem cell | |
| Current investigation | Role of arsenic in patients who have not relapsed |
| Possible future investigation | Role of autologous PBSC transplants in patients who have become negative for PML-RARα |
| INDUCTION . | ATRA + anthracycline-based chemotherapy . |
|---|---|
| . | (i) anthracycline alone if cannot give ATRA . |
| . | (ii) probably, no need for cytarabline . |
| CONSOLIDATION . | Anthracycline-based chemotherapy x 1 – 2 cycles role of cytarabine unproven . |
| MAINTENANCE . | ATRA ± low-dose chemotherapy . |
| Abbreviations: ATRA, all-trans retinoic acid; PBSC, peripheral blood stem cell | |
| Current investigation | Role of arsenic in patients who have not relapsed |
| Possible future investigation | Role of autologous PBSC transplants in patients who have become negative for PML-RARα |