Role of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) in the consolidation therapy of acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL).

The role of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) in the consolidation therapy of acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) is undefined at present. Between 1994 and 1999, we treated 38 newly diagnosed APL patients with ATRA and chemotherapy during the induction and consolidation. ATRA was given for 28 days each during the induction and 2 cycles of consolidation therapy. Chemotherapy consisted of daunorubicin and cytarabine. No maintenance therapy was given. ATRA was well-tolerated during consolidation therapy with no cases of retinoic acid syndrome. The 5-year overall and leukaemia-free survival of study patients was 82% (95% C.I. 70-95%) and 78% (95% C.I. 65-93%), respectively. These data are comparable to the studies that used prolonged maintenance with ATRA +/- chemotherapy. The role of ATRA during consolidation therapy of APL merits further investigation as this may allow shortening the overall duration of APL treatment.