Use of all-trans-retinoid acid in acute promyelocytic leukemia - more than successful model of targeted treatment in hematooncology
2008
Abstract
Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) belongs to less frequent subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia. However, APL is a very important entity being one of the first malignant diseases treated by targeted therapy and the only one acute myeloid leukemia with a really favorable prognosis.
All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) caused a real revolution in APL treatment 20 years ago. A vast majority of patients died from intracranial bleeding shortly after diagnosis before the inclusion of ATRA in front-line treatment.
Nowadays, it is possible to achieve a long-term remission and perhaps to completely cure 70-80 % of patients.