Treatment of newly diagnosed patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia with modified spanish treatment protocol

The results of treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia, when combination ATRA + chemotherapy is used in induction and maintainance therapy and risk adapted strategy applied in consolidation, improved at present time. Enhanced supportive therapy also contribute to improved outcome of APL patients. 3 - year relapse free, overall survival and clinical and biological presenting features of APL patients were evaluated. Since January, 2001 till March, 2009, 32 patients treated with modified spanish treatment scheme were assessed. After june 2003 risk adapted strategy in protocol therapy according to spanish treatment group with ATRA and anthracyclines in consolidation therapy in high and intermediate risk patients was used. Cytoreduction therapy in patients with initially high leukocyte count was the modification of spanish treatment scheme. 29 (90.6%) patients achieved complete hematologic remission, 2 (6.3 %) molecular relapses were observed, death was observed in 4 patients (12.5%). The estimated 3-year OS was 90.6%; 95% CI (80.5%-100.0%), and estimated 3-year RFS was 95.5 %; 95 % CI (86.8%-100.0%). Survival results correspond with other published clinical studies. The number of relapses was slightly lower and the incidence of ATRA syndrome (50%) was higher when compare with the results of other study groups. Current recommendations for treatment with risk-adapted strategy for patients with newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia resulted in our patients group to comparable outcome and good compliance like in other published studies.