Liposomal daunorubicin and interferon-alfa in combination with all-retinoic acid--a new regime for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia

AIM: To define duration and schemes of maintenance therapy, to evaluate cytarabine demand while treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with an original program 5D + Ifa + AT RA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The above treatment was conducted in 7 patients with APL (1 male, 6 females, 18-45 years, leukocytes 1.2-15.0 x 10(9)/l). RESULTS: Induction by 5D program was performed in 5 patients. A complete remission was achieved in 4 of them, molecular--in 3. One woman died. 5D consolidation was performed in 6 patients. After the first course of consolidation all the patients achieved molecular remission. Maintenance of remission with Ifa + ATRA was made in 5 patients. In one female the remission came to the end. Mean time of the follow-up was 18 months. The remission lasted 5-36 months. Monitoring of molecular remission has not found marker PML/RARa. CONCLUSION: Daunozom monotherapy leads to a complete remission after the first course in most of the patients. In the majority of them it was molecular. Maintenance with If + ATRA for 2 years maintains molecular remission for 5-36 months.     

Effectiveness of trans-retinoic acid in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia: initial results of a multicenter study]

AIM: Evaluation of trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) in combination with cytostatic drugs in treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a multicenter study APL was treated according to protocols APL 01.97 and APL 06.87 in 28 patients (14 males and 14 females, median age 36 years). RESULTS: Administration of ATRA in combination with standard program 7 + 3 (cytosine-arabinoside 100 mg/m2 twice a day v.v. day 1-7, daunorubicin 60 mg/m2 v.v. day 1-3) induced a complete remission in 25 patients (90%). Early lethality was 10% (3 patients died). Resistant APL was not registered. Retinoid syndrome was diagnosed in 15 patients, one patient died. 2-year overall and recurrence-free survival made up 72 and 82%, respectively. CONCLUSION: ATRA combination with cytosine-arabinoside and daunorubicin is a novel treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia providing a high rate of complete remission and long-term survival.     

全反式维甲酸、四硫化四砷、化疗三联方案在急性早幼粒细胞白血病维持治疗中的应用

目的比较全反式维甲酸（ATRA）、四硫化四砷（As4S4）、化疗三联方案与ATRA、化疗二联方案在急性早幼粒细胞白血病（APL）维持治疗中的疗效差异。方法60例APL患者经ATRA诱导分化达完全缓解（CR）后，用联合化疗巩固治疗。随后随机分为两组，三联组30例用ATRA＋As4S4＋化疗维持治疗，二联组30例仅应用ATRA＋化疗维持治疗。分析两种治疗方案的疗效、不良反应及对PML-RARα融合基因转阴的影响。结果三联组3年累计持续完全缓解（CCR）率为90．0％，二联组为63．3％，三联组PML—RARα融合基因转阴率明显高于二联组（分别为90％和63％，P〈0．05）。加用As4S4治疗不良反应未明显加重。结论APLCR患者巩固治疗后应用ATRA＋As4S4加化疗维持治疗，CCR率高，不良反应轻。     

All-trans retinoic acid syndrome: another cause of drug-induced respiratory failure

It is now possible to achieve complete remission in the majority of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) if all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is administered as a single agent or in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy. Despite its positive influence on recovery, ATRA is not without the potential for toxicity. It is important for clinicians participating in the care of patients undergoing treatment with this drug to be aware of ATRA syndrome and institute the appropriate therapy to reduce the likelihood of an adverse outcome.     

Intensive postremission chemotherapy in Taiwanese adults with acute myelogenous leukemia

Intensive postremission chemotherapy has produced disease-free survival comparable to that of bone marrow transplantation in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), but its efficacy was unknown in Taiwan. We assessed the efficacy of intensive postremission chemotherapy, consisting of high-dose arabinoside-C (HiDAC) with or without transplantation of peripheral blood stem cells, in 33 AML patients from a single institute in Taiwan. Toxic reactions, treatment outcome, prognostic factors, and the size of the peripheral blood stem-cell harvest after HiDAC were analyzed. After a median follow-up of 21 months, 18 patients remained in continuous complete remission. The actuarial leukemia-free survival at 4 years was 51%. Relapse occurred in 12 patients, at a median of 12 months after initial diagnosis. All 6 patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia remained disease free after HiDAC therapy. Age, sex, and number of remission-induction or intensive consolidation chemotherapy courses had no effect on the risk of relapse. Intensive postremission chemotherapy can effectively prolong the duration of remission in young (<60 years of age) adults with AML.     

亚砷酸联合维甲酸治疗急性早幼粒细胞白血病的疗效和观察

目的探讨亚砷酸联合维甲酸治疗急性早幼粒细胞白血病的疗效。方法将45例急性早幼粒细胞性白血病患者随机分为双诱导组(亚砷酸联+维甲酸)、维甲酸组、常规化疗组,观察各组白细胞总数、早幼粒细胞、缓解时间和药物不良反应。结果双诱导组治疗1周后早幼粒细胞比率、白细胞总数、CR与维甲酸组、常规化疗组比较,差异有显著性(P<0.05)。结论亚砷酸联合维甲酸治疗急性早幼粒细胞白血病短期疗效显著,完全缓解率高。     

全反式维甲酸联合高三尖杉酯碱治疗急性早幼粒细胞白血病的临床研究

目的观察全反式维甲酸(ATRA)联合高三尖杉酯碱(HHT)治疗初发急性早幼粒细胞白血病(APL)的疗效和生存情况。方法 ATRA联合HHT治疗初治APL患者75例,观察患者临床特征、疗效及生存情况。结果 58例患者获得完全缓解(CR),CR率77.3%;17例患者诱导失败,其中16例死于诱导治疗早期。在平均36个月的中位随访时间中,分别有2例和3例患者死于巩固和维持治疗阶段。患者预期3年总生存率为71.5%,3年无事件生存率为61.0%,获得CR患者3年无事件生存率为78.9%。结论 ATRA联合HHT治疗初发APL患者疗效好,长期生存率高,且价格经济,是APL治疗的合理选择之一。     

Retinoids in Pediatric Onco-Hematology: the Model of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia and Neuroblastoma

Retinoids are lipophilic compounds derived from vitamin A, which have been extensively studied in cancer prevention and therapy. In pediatric oncology, they are successfully used for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and high-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NBL). APL is a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) clinically characterized by a severe bleeding tendency with a highrisk of fatal hemorrhage. The molecular hallmark of this disease is the presence of the promyelocytic leukemia (PML)-retinoic acid receptor-α (RAR α) gene fusion that plays a critical role in promyelocytic leukemogenesis and represents the target of retinoid therapy. The introduction in the late 1980s of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) into the therapy of APL radically changed the management and the outcome of this disease. Presently, the standard front-line therapeutic approach for pediatric APL includes anthracycline-based chemotherapy and ATRA, leading to a complete remission in almost 90% of the patients. Neuroblastoma (NBL) is an aggressive childhood tumor derived from the peripheral neural crest. More than half of patients have a high-risk disease, with a poor outcome despite intensive multimodal treatment. Although the exact mechanism of action remains unclear, the introduction of 13-cis-retinoic acid (13-cis-RA) in the therapy of NBL has improved the prognosis of this disease. Currently, the standard treatment for HR-NBL consists of myeloablative therapy followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and maintenance with 13-cis-RA for the treatment of minimal residual disease, leading to a 3-year disease-free survival rate (DFS) of about 50%. In this paper the authors provide a review of the peer-reviewed literature on the role of retinoids in the treatment of pediatric APL and HR-NBL, summarizing the most relevant clinical trial results of the last decades, analyzing the ongoing trials, and investigating future therapeutic perspectives of children affected by these diseases.     

An eight year experience with gradually longer interval postremission therapy for adults with acute leukemia

Between January 1980 and March 1983, a study was conducted into the effects of postremission therapy on 20 patients with acute leukemia who had achieved complete remission through induction therapy. Postremission therapy consisted of cyclic administration of six combination therapies given at gradually longer intervals. Postremission therapy used DCMP (D, daunorubicin; C, cytosine arabinoside; M, 6-mercaptopurine; P, prednisolone), DCyMP (Cy, cyclocytidine), DCVP (V, vincristine), BHAC-DMP (BHAC, behenoyl-ara-c), BHAC-AMP (A, aclarubicin) and ACM-MP (ACM, aclacinomycin). Six combinations were given sequentially starting at one month interval, and then at 2, 3, 4, 5 and eventually 6 month intervals until 5 year survival was reached. The median remission duration was 38 months for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), and 17 months for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The median survival was 66 months for AML, and 33 months for ALL. The survival rate at 5 years was 60% for AML., 40% for ALL, and 50% in all 20 patients. Methotrexate and prednisolone were administered intrathecally for prophylaxis of CNS leukemia on Day 4 of each stage of postremission therapy. There was no CNS leukemia. This postremission therapy was shown to be effective in improving the prognosis of adults with acute leukemia.     

Postremission therapy without prednisolone improves survival in adults with acute leukemia.

This prospective randomized clinical trial was to clarify whether postremission therapy without prednisolone (PSL) was more effective than therapy with PSL in improving the 5-year survival of adults with acute leukemia. Thirty consecutive adult patients with newly achieved complete remission were randomized to receive postremission therapy either with or without PSL between September 1985 and September 1988. The patients ranged from 16 to 57 years in age. Patients treated without PSL had a significantly better 5-year survival rate than those receiving PSL according to Kaplan-Meier analysis (53.5% vs 15.3%, p < 0.05). In the group treated without PSL, eight out of 15 patients were alive at 72 months, and seven patients maintained their first complete remission at 72 months. Among patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who were treated without PSL the median duration of remission was 24 months, and the survival rate at 72 months was 50.0%. On the other hand, the median survival was only 13 months for the 5 patients with ALL treated with PSL. Thus, it is desirable that adults with acute leukemia are treated by postremission therapy without PSL.     

白血病基因产物靶向治疗的基础和临床研究

全反式维甲酸(ATRA)和三氧化二砷(As2O3)治疗急性早幼粒细胞性白血病(APL)获得了很大成功，已经成为白血病靶向治疗研究的代表性模式ATRA与As2O3的作用靶点均为异常转录因子PML—RARα，前者通过针对RARα，而后者通过PML SUMO化后使PML—RARα致病蛋白降解，导致APL细胞分化和凋亡。ATRA与As2O3联合治疗初发APL，证实了两药的相互协同作用，获得了迄今为止成人急性白血病治疗的最好疗效。酪氨酸激酶抑制剂格力维(Gleevec)在慢性粒细胞白血病(CML)治疗中获得了成功。联合应用格力维与砷剂治疗CML已在临床和实验中初步证实其有效性，这一治疗方案是基于针对ABL异常的酪氨酸激酶活性与降解BCR—ABL融合蛋白的双重靶向作用。白血病多靶点联合治疗的思路将进一步拓展至ANLL-M2b型白血病，为该类白血病提供新的治疗方案，有可能使该类白血病获得更为有效的治疗效果。     

急性早幼粒细胞白血病170例长期生存分析

本研究探讨影响急性早幼粒细胞白血病(APL)患者长期生存的预后因素。在回顾性分析了1990年1月至2004年12月本院170例APL患者的临床资料后,应用Log-Rank检验和Cox回归模型对170例患者的性别、年龄、初诊时白细胞(WBC)计数、血清乳酸脱氢酶水平、诱导缓解方案、获得缓解时间、缓解后治疗方案、PML/RARα阳性率进行单因素和多因素综合分析。结果表明:170例患者中位随访36个月(6-185个月),5年预计总体生存率(OS)为(80.9±4.0)%,5年预计无复发生存率(RFS)为(71.0±4.0)%。23例患者于中位缓解后15个月(6-70个月)复发。单因素分析显示,初诊时WBC计数、诱导缓解方案、获得缓解时间、缓解后治疗方案、PML/RARα阳性率均为影响APL患者长期生存的主要因素;多因素分析显示,缓解后治疗方案是影响APL患者长期生存的重要的独立因素。结论:在APL患者获得完全缓解后,应用化疗+维甲酸+砷剂的缓解后治疗方案将显著延长患者的生存时间。     

CNS relapses of acute promyelocytic leukemia after all-trans retinoic acid

OBJECTIVE: To review the role of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide in central nervous system (CNS) relapses of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). CASE SUMMARY: A 69-year-old white man diagnosed with APL presented with bleeding diathesis. His molecular and cytogenetic studies were positive for promyelocytic leukemia-retinoic acid receptoralpha (PML-RARalpha) and t(15;17) transformation. Complete molecular and cytogenetic remission was achieved with ATRA, daunorubicin, and cytarabine. Within 6 months, the patient was readmitted for investigation of severe global headaches and an ataxic gait. His peripheral blood and cerebral spinal fluid were positive for PML-RARalpha fusion protein. Intrathecal chemotherapy and radiation, as well as ATRA, were the main treatment modalities provided. Molecular and cytogenetic remission was again obtained. Three months later, a second relapse occurred in the CNS and the peripheral blood. DISCUSSION: APL is typically treated with anthacycline-based chemotherapy and ATRA. Approximately 85-95% of patients achieve complete remission (CR); however, the relapse rate has been reported to be about 30-40%. A thorough literature search (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CANCERLIT, 1966-January 2002) revealed only 54 cases of extramedullary disease, of which 35 involved the CNS. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of ATRA has improved patient survival dramatically. APL relapse, in general, has been in part attributable to repetitive or prolonged exposure to ATRA and the possibility of additional chromosomal changes, making the disease more refractory to treat. Given the evidence, one could argue that, with repeated ATRA treatment, CR duration may be shortened. However, limited data are available to guide the appropriate management of APL relapsed to the CNS with either ATRA, chemotherapy, or arsenic trioxide. In our opinion, treatment using arsenic trioxide is an unconventional option worthy of exploring.     

急性髓系白血病完全缓解后治疗周期的初步探讨

目的 探讨急性髓系白血病（AML）诱导缓解后的适宜治疗周期。方法 治疗并随访观察我院7年收治的原发、补治AML191例,采用SPSS软件分析所得数据。结果 191例原发初治AML采用HA、DA、AA、HAD方案分组诱导化疗,完全缓解（CR）率81．4％,其1－2个疗程CR率89．9％。144例可分析生存期的CR患者中位无病生存（DFS）9．6个月,3年实际DFS率为21．6％,5年DFS预计为12．9％,CR后巩固强化治疗＜6个疗程者中位DFS为7．1个月,3年DFS率为11．4％,5年DFS率为6．3％,治疗≥6个疗程者中位DFS为35．3个月,3年DFS率为43．2％,5年DFS率为27．0％,二者差异具有显著性。其中治疗≥8个疗程者中位DFS为48．8个月,3年DFS率为57．9％,5年DFS率为31．6％,略高于治疗≥6个疗程的全部病例,但差异无统计学意义。结论 AML CR后标准剂量化疗巩固强化至少应6个疗程,以8个疗程以上为宜。建议AML的治疗至少维持1年左右。     

急性白血病Ly+AML型和My+ALL型预后因素的临床研究

为了研究Ly+AML(表达淋巴系抗原的急性髓性白血病),My+ALL(表达髓系抗原的急性淋巴细胞白血病),AML(急性髓性白血病),ALL(急性淋巴细胞白血病)和BAL(急性双表型白血病)的预后,采用CD45/SSC双参数散点图设门,应用三色流式细胞术,对197例AL(急性白血病)初诊患者骨髓标本进行免疫分型,采用EGIL(白血病免疫分型欧洲协作组)积分系统,将患者分为5组ALL 43例,AML 53例,Ly+AML 39例,My+ALL 53例,BAL 9例.结果表明Ly+AML(淋系抗原以CD7表达最常见,占53.8%)与My+ALL(髓系抗原以CD13表达最常见,占47.2%)相比,在白细胞数＞100×109/L的例数、CD34阳性率及完全缓解(CR)率方面,差别无统计学意义(P＞0.05),但在肝、脾、淋巴结肿大的例数方面,差别有统计学意义(P＜0.05),My+ALL的例数相对更多.ALL与My+ALL在白细胞数＞100×109/L的例数、肝脾淋巴结肿大的例数、CD34阳性率及CR率方面,差别均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).AML与Ly+AML相比,在白细胞数＞100×109/L的例数、肝脾淋巴结肿大的例数及CD34阳性率方面,差别无统计学意义(P＞0.05),但在CR率方面,差别有统计学意义(P＜0.05),AML患者的CR率相对更高.BAL与Ly+AML和My+ALL相比,虽然BAL患者的CR率(仅37.5%)明显低于前两者(分别低了16.8%和27.8%),但是由于BAL的例数太少,差别并无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论Ly+AML的临床化疗可能应兼顾AML+ALL的两方面,因为它的预后因淋系抗原的表达而更差;而对于My+ALL来说,它的预后并没有因髓系抗原的表达而与ALL表现出明显差异,因此可以考虑采用与ALL相同的化疗方案.     

急性早幼粒细胞白血病基因分析

目的：分析急性早幼粒细胞白血病（ＡＰＬ）患者经全反式维甲酸（ＡＴＲＡ）联合细胞毒药物及异基因骨髓移植（ａｌｏ－ＢＭＴ）治疗后融合基因的变化。方法：采用逆转录－多聚酶链反应（ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ）对２２例ＡＰＬ患者治疗前后ＲＡＲα／ＰＭＬ融合基因进行检测。其中１２例患者为单纯化疗，１０例接受了ａｌｏ－ＢＭＴ，９例患者于第１次完全缓解（ＣＲ１）期、１例于第１次复发（ＲＲ１）期接受了ａｌｏ－ＢＭＴ。结果：单纯维甲酸诱导完全缓解时，７５％ＡＰＬ患者融合基因仍然阳性；继用强化疗后８３％患者融合基因转为阴性，ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ转阴时间为发病后１～３９个月；ａｌｏ－ＢＭＴ后４个月内及４个月后，分别有６２．５％及８５．７％患者融合基因转阴。结论：化疗及ＢＭＴ均可使患者融合基因转阴，ａｌｏ－ＢＭＴ似乎能更快地清除体内白血病细胞     

联合三氧化二砷序贯治疗急性早幼粒细胞白血病临床观察

目的:观察三氧化二砷(As2O3)序贯治疗急性早幼粒细胞白血病(acute promyelocytic leuk-emia,APL)的疗效.方法:8例初发APL患者经维A酸诱导缓解后,再予DA方案(柔红霉素、阿糖胞苷)、维A酸和As2O3序贯巩固强化治疗3年,观察持续缓解时间及As2O3的不良反应.结果:8例中,7例随访4～42个月,1例失访.随访的7例均处于完全缓解中,中数缓解时间为17个月.随访超过24个月者3例,仍持续缓解,持续缓解时间最长者已达42个月.此疗法不良反应轻.结论:联合As2O3序贯治疗APL,疗效良好,有望延长APL患者的持续缓解时间及无病生存时间.     

微移植巩固治疗对完全缓解后急性髓系白血病患者的疗效分析

目的:观察微移植在急性髓系白血病(AML)中的疗效与安全性。方法:回顾性分析2014年7月至2019年10月接受微移植作为巩固治疗的13例成人AML患者的临床资料,随访观察微移植治疗的不良反应与疗效。结果:13例微移植患者中有8例仍处于完全缓解状态,5例患者微移植后复发,其中1例再诱导缓解后行脐血微移植。目前13例均处于生存状态,中位总生存期为13个月,中位无复发生存期为12个月。13例患者均发生2-4级血液学不良反应;中性粒细胞中位恢复时间13(11-15)d,血小板中位恢复时间15(13-17)d。13例患者均未发生急慢性移植物抗宿主病;12例患者发生不同严重程度的感染,无严重脏器功能损伤。结论:HLA不相合外周血和脐血来源的干细胞微移植是巩固治疗AML的有效方案,尤其对于低中危、老年AML患者疗效较显著。     

Late results of the treatment of acute granulocytic leukemia in adults

Eighteen patients with acute granulocytic leukemia (MI-1, M2-10, M3-1 and M4-6) underwent AdOAP treatment. Complete remissions were achieved in 10 out of the 18 patients (55.6%), 3 patients proved resistant, 5 had died prior to recovery of normal hemopoiesis. Three lethal cases are attributed to the results of the therapy complications. Median duration of complete remissions reached 17.5 months. Two patients have been in remission over 3 years. Reduced duration or intensity of the induction therapy failed to diminish frequency of lethal complications due to progressive cytopenia.