Positive Health Online

Abstract

CHENG and COLLEAGUES, (1)Department of Paediatrics, Medical School, Peking University, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Peking University, Beijing, China explored the efficacy of combined treatment with arsenic trioxide (As2 O3) and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in children diagnosed with childhood acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL).

Background

The efficacy of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (As2 O3) as induction therapy for adult acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) has been documented in several clinical trials. However, the role of ATRA/As2 O3 combination in induction and consolidation therapy in children remains unclear. Here, we report the efficacy of combined treatment with As2 O3 and ATRA as induction and consolidation chemotherapy to treat newly diagnosed childhood APL.

Methodology

From 1998 to 2011, 43 children with newly diagnosed APL received induction and consolidation chemotherapy with ATRA and As2 O3 (Protocol B). Rates of complete remission (CR), event-free survival (EFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) and drug toxicity were compared between children treated with Protocol B and 25 others treated previously with ATRA alone as induction chemotherapy (Protocol A).

Results

Of 43 patients treated with Protocol B, 41 (95.4%) achieved CR (two died of intracranial haemorrhage on day 10 and 14). In contrast, only 20 (80%) of 25 patients treated with Protocol A achieved CR. Thus, the CR rate was significantly lower in patients receiving induction chemotherapy with Protocol A than in those treated with Protocol B (P = 0.045, χ(2) = 6.508). Of the 41 patients who achieved CR on induction therapy with Protocol B, 40 also received consolidation therapy. Molecular relapse, but no overt morphological relapse, occurred in one patient at 25 months after diagnosis; this patient regained CR status with As2 O3 treatment. With a median follow-up period of 75 months, estimated EFS, DFS and OS rates were 92.5 ± 4.2%, 97.1 ± 2.9% and 95.3 ± 3.2%, respectively, for Protocol B. In contrast, with a median follow-up of 127 months, the EFS, DFS and OS rates at 75 months were 70.4 ± 9.4%, 76.4 ± 9.2% and 70.4 ± 9.4%, respectively, for Protocol A. Thus, patients treated with Protocol A showed significantly lower EFS (P = 0.021) and OS (P = 0.007) rates than those treated with Protocol B.

Conclusion

Application of As2 O3 and ATRA as induction and consolidation chemotherapy resulted in excellent outcomes and improved long-term prognosis in children with newly diagnosed APL.

References

Cheng Y(1), Zhang L, Wu J, Lu A, Wang B, Liu G. Long-term prognosis of childhood acute promyelocytic leukaemia with arsenic trioxide administration in induction and consolidation chemotherapy phases: a single-centre experience.  Eur J Haematol. 91(6):483-9. doi: 10.1111/ejh.12194. Dec 2013. Epub Sep 17 2013.