Dr. Francesco Lo-Coco on Arsenic Trioxide in APL

Francesco Lo-Coco, MD, Hematology, University Tor Vergata, discusses a new emerging treatment, arsenic trioxide (ATO), in the rare hematological cancer acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).

Currently, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) plus chemotherapy is the gold standard for newly diagnosed APL patients demonstrating an 80% cure rate and typical toxicities (myelosuppression infections, hair loss). In the past 10 to 15 years, Lo-Coco says, ATO was suggested by Chinese investigators to show efficacy in APL with inferior toxicity.

A phase III trial analyzing ATRA and ATO versus ATRA and idarubicin (AIDA) in newly diagnosed, non high-risk APL showed that the new strategy is at least equal effective.

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