We aimed to understand the effectiveness of a combination treatment involving all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), arsenic trioxide (ATO), and gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) for patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). This was a phase 2 trial involving newly diagnosed APL patients, where ATRA and ATO were used to induce remission.
The results were promising, as we observed a complete remission rate of 93.8% among the participants. Furthermore, 97.1% of those who achieved remission had no measurable residual disease, indicating a strong initial response to the treatment regimen.
Over a median follow-up of about 62 months, the 5-year survival rates were also impressive, with event-free survival at 92.4%, disease-free survival at 93.6%, and overall survival at 93.1%. We noted some side effects, including elevated liver enzymes and infections, but there were no severe complications like veno-occlusive disease.
While the study highlights the benefits of ATRA in this combination treatment, we must clarify that we cannot specifically isolate the effect of vitamin A, as it was part of a broader therapeutic approach. Nonetheless, the combination of ATRA with other agents showed significant success in treating APL, reinforcing the importance of multifaceted cancer therapies.