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Tamibarotene as maintenance therapy for acute promyelocytic leukemia: results from a randomized controlled trial
Katsuji Shinagawa1, Masamitsu Yanada2, Toru Sakura1
1Katsuji Shinagawa, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama; Masamitsu Yanada and Nobuhiko Emi, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake; Toru Sakura, Saiseikai Maebashi Hospital, Maebashi; Yasunori Ueda, Kurashiki Central Hospital, Kurashiki; Masashi Sawa, Anjo Kosei Hospital, Anjo; Junichi Miyatake, Kinki University Faculty of Medicine, Osakasayama; Nobuaki Dobashi, Jikei University School of Medicine; Yoshihiro Hatta, Nihon University School of Medicine; Yukio Kobayashi, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo; Minoru Kojima, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara; Shigehisa Tamaki, Ise Red Cross Hospital, Ise; Hiroshi Gomyo, Hyogo Cancer Center, Akashi; Etsuko Yamazaki, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama; Katsumichi Fujimaki, Fujisawa City Hospital, Fujisawa; Norio Asou, International Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Hidaka; Keitaro Matsuo, Kyushu University Faculty of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka; Shigeki Ohtake, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa; Yasushi Miyazaki, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki; Kazunori Ohnishi, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu; and Tomoki Naoe, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine and National Hospital Organization Nagoya Medical Center, Nagoya, Japan.
Purpose:
The introduction of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) has significantly improved outcomes for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), although a subset of patients still suffer relapse. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of maintenance therapy with the synthetic retinoid tamibarotene in APL.
Patients And Methods:
Patients with newly diagnosed APL in molecular remission at the end of consolidation therapy were randomly assigned to receive ATRA or tamibarotene, both orally, for 14 days every 3 months for up to 2 years.
Results:
A total of 347 patients were enrolled. Of the 344 eligible patients, 319 (93%) achieved complete remission. After completing three courses of consolidation therapy, 269 patients underwent maintenance random assignment. The relapse-free survival (RFS) rate at 4 years was 84% for the ATRA arm and 91% for the tamibarotene arm (hazard ratio [HR], 0.54; 95% CI, 0.26 to 1.13). When the analysis was restricted to 52 high-risk patients with an initial WBC count ≥ 10.0 × 10(9)/L, the intergroup difference was statistically significant, with 4-year RFS rates of 58% for the ATRA arm and 87% for the tamibarotene arm (HR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.95). For patients with non-high-risk disease, the HR was 0.82 (95% CI, 0.32 to 2.01). The test for interaction between treatment effects and these subgroups resulted in P = .075. Both treatments were generally well tolerated.
Conclusion:
In this trial, no difference was detected between ATRA and tamibarotene for maintenance therapy. In an exploratory analysis, there was a suggestion of improved efficacy of tamibarotene in high-risk patients, but this requires further study.
