Abstract

PADRON, Carlos Hernández et al. Arsenic trioxide: a new light in the treatment of promyelocytic leukemia. Rev Cubana Hematol Inmunol Hemoter [online]. 2008, vol.24, n.2, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-2996.

In the last 20 years and thanks to the effectivity of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a drug introduced by Chinese researchers in the treatment of promyelocytic leukemia, this variety of leukemia that was the most aggressive and had the poorest prognosis due to its high mortality, has showed the highest survival and possibility of cure. In spite of its benefits, at about 20 % of the patients may have a relapse both hematological and molecular some time during the evolution of the disease. Once again, the Chinese researchers showed the benefits or arsenic trioxide, a drug that allows by different routes the maturation and differentiation of leukemic promyelocite and, finally, the disappearance of the abnormal PML/RAR? gene and of its hybrid protein. In the first trials, arsenic trioxide was used in patients with some type of relapse or in those who did not respond to ATRA. 80 % of hematological and molecular remissions were observed in these patients. Similar outcomes have been reported by various groups. According to its effects, it is being used as a first-line drug with excellent results.

Keywords : all-trans retinoic acid; arsenic trioxide; promyelocytic leukemia.

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