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Clinico-biological features of 30 patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia and response to combination induction chemotherapy with all-trans retinoic acid and anthracycline

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Abstract

30 adult patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) were seen at our institution over the past 7 years. Their white cell count at presentation ranged from 400/μl to 54,900/μl. Cytogenetic studies were successful in 28 patients, of which 26(93%) were positive for t(15;17). Molecular analysis by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction demonstrated the PML-RARα fusion transcript in all 30 patients. The majority of patients had breakpoints at the 3′ end with bcr1 products predominating. Complete remission rate of 92% was achieved using all-trans retinoic acid and anthracycline as induction chemotherapy in 26 patients. Of these, retinoic acid syndrome was observed in 4 cases, with 1 fatality. In conclusion, APL is a distinct entity with a highly specific molecular marker—t (15;17) translocation—that can be successfully induced into remission with all-trans retinoic acid and anthracycline in most patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hematology, Singapore General Hospital, 1 Hospital Drive, 169609, Singapore

    L-C Lim, M Vellupillai & AA Ghafar

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  1. L-C Lim
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  2. M Vellupillai
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  3. AA Ghafar
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Correspondence to L-C Lim.

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Lim, LC., Vellupillai, M. & Ghafar, A. Clinico-biological features of 30 patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia and response to combination induction chemotherapy with all-trans retinoic acid and anthracycline. Med Oncol 17, 301–306 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02782195

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02782195

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