The recent JALSG study for newly diagnosed patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).

Based on the prognostic factors obtained from our previous APL92 study, in the JALSG APL97 study, we intensified chemotherapy for patients with leukocyte counts > or = 3,000/microL and > or = 10,000/microL, also intensified consolidation chemotherapy, and then tested whether further chemotherapy is required in patients with negative RT-PCR for PML/RARalpha after the completion of consolidation therapy. Of 256 presently evaluable patients, 244 (95%) achieved CR. Predicted 5-year EFS is 67% and predicted 5-year overall survival 84%.