Differentiation therapy in acute promyelocytic leukemia: European experience

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a subset of acute myeloid leukemia characterized by the morphology of the blast cells (M3 type in the FAB nomenclature), and a specific t(15; 17) translocation. APL was further characterized by a specific sensitivity to all-trans retinoic acid's differentiation effect and the production of a fusion gene altering the gene of RAR alpha and a gene called PML. In vivo differentiation therapy with retinoids in APL patients reduces the risk of relapse and increases the chance of long-term survival.