This Research Topic is the first volume of the series Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia - Towards a Chemotherapy-Free Approach to Cure in All Patients
Volume II is available here:
Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia - Towards a Chemotherapy-Free Approach to Cure in All Patients, Volume II
Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is characterized by a translocation denoted as t (15;17) (q24;21) and the fusion gene PML-RARA. With optimal supportive care and frontline use of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and chemotherapy, first complete remission (CR1) rates of more than 90% and long-term survival of more 80% can be achieved. Intravenous arsenic trioxide (i.v.-As
2O
3 ) is highly efficacious for APL in first relapse (R1), inducing second complete remission (CR2) in more than 90% of patients. Oral preparations of As
2O
3 (oral-As
2O
3 ) have also been formulated, and it has been shown to induce CR2 in more than 90% of R1 patients. Oral-As
2O
3 has also been evaluated recently in frontline use and was shown to lead a favorable overall-survival (OS) and leukemia-free-survival (LFS), implying that prolonged oral-As
2O
3 treatment may prevent relapses.
Frontline treatment of APL has evolved rapidly. An emerging theme is the incorporation of As
2O
3 early in the treatment algorithm, starting from induction to consolidation. This Research Topic aims to provide an overview on the biology of APL, with past and present, and future perspectives on treatment approaches.
We welcome submissions in the form of Original Research and Review articles on the following topics (but not limited to):
- Biology of APL
- Evolution of therapeutic approaches for APL – past and present
- Reappraising the need for “risk-stratification” in the arsenic trioxide era
- Frontline arsenic trioxide-based induction for APL
- Reappraising the role of hematopoietic stem cells transplantation in the arsenic trioxide era
- Moving towards an entirely oral approach for APL – development of oral arsenic trioxide
- Resistance to all-trans-retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide – mechanisms and novel therapeutic approaches