Hematological and molecular remission with combination chemotherapy in a patient with PLZF-RARalpha acute promyelocytic leukemia (APML)

Ann Hematol. 2005 Jun;84(6):406-8. doi: 10.1007/s00277-004-0979-z. Epub 2004 Dec 7.

Abstract

Patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APML) with the t(11;17) translocation usually respond poorly to all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and chemotherapy. We describe a patient with promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger/retinoic acid receptor alpha (PLZF/RARalpha) APML who was treated with combination chemotherapy after poor response to arsenic trioxide. He achieved hematological remission in 4 weeks followed by achievement of molecular remission in 8 weeks. Four cycles of consolidation chemotherapy followed by four cycles of maintenance therapy were given over a period of 9 months. At a follow-up of 32 months after achieving hematological remission, he continues to remain in hematological and molecular remission with normal blood parameters and negative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results. Combination chemotherapy can achieve sustained remission in patients with PLZF/RARalpha APML.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Arsenic Trioxide
  • Arsenicals / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / blood*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Cytarabine / administration & dosage
  • Daunorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / blood
  • Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / genetics
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Proteins / blood*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / blood*
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics
  • Oxides / therapeutic use
  • Remission Induction
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Translocation, Genetic

Substances

  • Arsenicals
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • Oxides
  • PLZF-RARalpha fusion protein, human
  • Cytarabine
  • Arsenic Trioxide
  • Daunorubicin