Document Type : Original Research

Authors

1 Molecular Pathology and Cytogenetic Ward, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

2 Department of Biostatistics, School of Health, Health Sciences Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

Abstract

Background & Objective: Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) is a medical emergency with potentially fatal complications. APL primarily results from a chromosomal translocation (t(15;17)(q22;q21)), leading to the formation of the PML-RARA fusion gene with three possible isoforms. This study aims to investigate the characteristics of Iranian APL patients, the distribution of PML-RARA isoforms, and survival analysis.
Methods: We included 145 consecutive eligible patients in this study. Data were collected through archived documents and phone inquiries, following consent. Subsequently, we analyzed the data using SPSS software version 26.0.
Results: We examined 75 men and 70 women, with a mean age of 34 years (range: 2-78 years). Besides t(15;17) (q22;q21), 45.6% had other chromosomal abnormalities. The prevalence of bcr1 and bcr3 isoforms was 73% and 27%, respectively. bcr3 correlated with higher white blood cell (WBC) counts, additional chromosomal abnormalities, and faster Complete Hematologic Response (CHR). Early death occurred in approximately 36% of all patients. The mean overall survival time was 73.5 months, with 120-month survival rates of 53.8% for all patients and 83.9% for those who achieved CHR. Univariate analysis identified old age, relapse, lower platelet (PLT) counts, higher WBC counts, and leukocytosis as survival risk factors. However, in multivariate analysis, only old age and higher WBC counts were identified as adverse prognostic factors.
Conclusion: In Iranian APL patients, bcr1 predominates, while bcr3 correlates with higher WBC counts, high-risk categorization, additional chromosomal abnormalities, and faster CHR. Survival is negatively impacted by old age, relapse, lower PLT counts, higher WBC counts, and leukocytosis.

Keywords

Main Subjects

  1. Chatterjee T, Gupta S, Sharma S, Ganguli P. Distribution of different PML/RARα bcr isoforms in Indian acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) patients and clinicohematological correlation. Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis. 2014;6(1). [DOI:10.4084/mjhid.2014.004] [PMID]
  2. Licht JD. Reconstructing a disease: What essential features of the retinoic acid receptor fusion oncoproteins generate acute promyelocytic leukemia? Cancer cell. 2006;9(2):73-4. [DOI:10.1016/j.ccr.2006.01.024] [PMID]
  3. Melnick A, Licht JD. Deconstructing a Disease: RARa, Its Fusion Partners, and Their Roles in the Pathogenesis of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia. Blood. 1999;93(10):3167-215. [PMID] [DOI:10.1182/blood.V93.10.3167.410k44_3167_3215]
  4. Scaglioni P, Pandolfi P. The theory of APL revisited. Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: Molecular Genetics, Mouse Models and Targeted Therapy. 2007:85-100. [DOI:10.1007/978-3-540-34594-7_6] [PMID]
  5. Jimenez JJ, Chale RS, Abad AC, Schally AV. Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL): a review of the literature. Oncotarget. 2020;11(11):992. [DOI:10.18632/oncotarget.27513] [PMID]
  6. Wang Z-Y, Chen Z. Acute promyelocytic leukemia: from highly fatal to highly curable. Blood. 2008;111(5):2505-15. [DOI:10.1182/blood-2007-07-102798] [PMID]
  7. Sanz MA, Coco FL, Martın G, Avvisati G, Rayón C, Barbui T, et al. Definition of relapse risk and role of nonanthracycline drugs for consolidation in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia: a joint study of the PETHEMA and GIMEMA cooperative groups: Presented in part at the 41st meeting of the American Society of Hematology, New Orleans, LA, December 3-7, 1999. Blood. 2000;96(4):1247-53.
  8. Mantha S, Goldman DA, Devlin SM, Lee J-W, Zannino D, Collins M, et al. Determinants of fatal bleeding during induction therapy for acute promyelocytic leukemia in the ATRA era. Blood. 2017;129(13):1763-7. [DOI:10.1182/blood-2016-10-747170] [PMID]
  9. Melo R, De Vasconcellos J, Melo F, Machado C, Lacerda T, Souto F. PML-RARα fusion gene transcripts and biological features in acute promyelocytic leukemia patients. Clin Lab Haematol. 2006;28(2):126-9. [DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2257.2006.00763.x] [PMID]
  10. Redner R. Variations on a theme: the alternate translocations in APL. Leukemia. 2002;16(10):1927-32. [DOI:10.1038/sj.leu.2402720] [PMID]
  11. Yamamoto Y, Tsuzuki S, Tsuzuki M, Handa K, Inaguma Y, Emi N. BCOR as a novel fusion partner of retinoic acid receptor alpha in at (X; 17)(p11; q12) variant of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Blood. 2010;116(20):4274-83. [DOI:10.1182/blood-2010-01-264432] [PMID]
  12. Mannan A, Muhsen IN, Barragán E, Sanz MA, Mohty M, Hashmi SK, et al. Genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of acute promyelocytic leukemia translocation variants. Hematol Oncol Stem Cell Ther. 2020;13(4):189-201. [DOI:10.1016/j.hemonc.2020.05.007] [PMID]
  13. Douer D, Santillana S, Ramezani L, Samanez C, Slovak ML, Lee MS, et al. Acute promyelocytic leukaemia in patients originating in Latin America is associated with an increased frequency of the bcr1 subtype of the PML/RARα fusion gene. Br J Haematol. 2003;122(4):563-70. [DOI:10.1046/j.1365-2141.2003.04480.x] [PMID]
  14. Biondi A, Rambaldi A, Pandolfi PP, Rossi V, Giudici G, Alcalay M, et al. Molecular monitoring of the myl/retinoic acid receptor-alpha fusion gene in acute promyelocytic leukemia by polymerase chain reaction. Blood. 1992;80(2):492-7. [DOI:10.1182/blood.V80.2.492.492] [PMID]
  15. Biondi A, Rovelli A, Cantu-Rajnoldi A, Fenu S, Basso G, Luciano A, et al. Acute promyelocytic leukemia in children: experience of the Italian Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Group (AIEOP). Leukemia. 1994;8:S66-70.
  16. Pandolfi P, Alcalay M, Fagioli M, Zangrilli D, Mencarelli A, Diverio D, et al. Genomic variability and alternative splicing generate multiple PML/RAR alpha transcripts that encode aberrant PML proteins and PML/RAR alpha isoforms in acute promyelocytic leukaemia. EMBO J. 1992;11(4):1397-407. [DOI:10.1002/j.1460-2075.1992.tb05185.x] [PMID]
  17. Gallagher RE, Willman CL, Slack JL, Andersen JW, Li Y-P, Viswanatha D, et al. Association of PML-RARα fusion mRNA type with pretreatment hematologic characteristics but not treatment outcome in acute promyelocytic leukemia: an intergroup molecular study. Blood. 1997;90(4):1656-63.
  18. Gonzalez M, Barragan E, Bolufer P, Chillon C, Colomer D, Borstein R, et al. Pretreatment characteristics and clinical outcome of acute promyelocytic leukaemia patients according to the PML‐RARα isoforms: a study of the PETHEMA group. Br J Haematol. 2001;114(1):99-103. [DOI:10.1046/j.1365-2141.2001.02915.x] [PMID]
  19. Soignet SL, Frankel SR, Douer D, Tallman MS, Kantarjian H, Calleja E, et al. United States multicenter study of arsenic trioxide in relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia. J Clin Oncol. 2001;19(18):3852-60. [DOI:10.1200/JCO.2001.19.18.3852] [PMID]
  20. Dutta P, Sazawal S, Kumar R, Saxena R. Does acute promyelocytic leukemia in Indian patients have biology different from the West? Indian J Pathol Microbiol. 2008;51(3):437. [DOI:10.4103/0377-4929.42555] [PMID]
  21. Sazawal S, Hasan SK, Dutta P, Kumar B, Kumar R, Kumar L, et al. Over-representation of bcr3 subtype of PML/RARα fusion gene in APL in Indian patients. Ann Hematol. 2005;84(12):781-4. [DOI:10.1007/s00277-005-1095-4] [PMID]
  22. Alcalay M, Tomassoni L, Colombo E, Stoldt S, Grignani F, Fagioli M, et al. The promyelocytic leukemia gene product (PML) forms stable complexes with the retinoblastoma protein. Mol Cell Biol. 1998;18(2):1084-93. [DOI:10.1128/MCB.18.2.1084] [PMID] []
  23. Liquori A, Ibañez M, Sargas C, Sanz MÁ, Barragán E, Cervera J. Acute promyelocytic leukemia: A constellation of molecular events around a single PML-RARA fusion gene. Cancers. 2020;12(3):624. [DOI:10.3390/cancers12030624] [PMID]
  24. Zhong S, Müller S, Ronchetti S, Freemont PS, Dejean A, Pandolfi PP. Role of SUMO-1-modified PML in nuclear body formation. Blood. 2000;95(9):2748-52. [DOI:10.1182/blood.V95.9.2748.009k31a_2748_2752] [PMID]
  25. Jensen K, Shiels C, Freemont PS. PML protein isoforms and the RBCC/TRIM motif. Oncogene. 2001;20(49):7223-33. [DOI:10.1038/sj.onc.1204765] [PMID]
  26. Lallemand-Breitenbach V. PML nuclear bodies. CSH Perspect Biol. 2010;2(5):a000661. [DOI:10.1101/cshperspect.a000661] [PMID]
  27. Iland HJ, Bradstock K, Supple SG, Catalano A, Collins M, Hertzberg M, et al. All-trans-retinoic acid, idarubicin, and IV arsenic trioxide as initial therapy in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APML4). Blood. 2012;120(8):1570-80. [DOI:10.1182/blood-2012-02-410746] [PMID]
  28. Iland HJ, Wei A, Seymour JF. Have all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide replaced all-trans retinoic acid and anthracyclines in APL as standard of care. Best Pract Res Clin Haematol. 2014;27(1):39-52. [DOI:10.1016/j.beha.2014.04.003] [PMID]
  29. Sanz MA, Fenaux P, Tallman MS, Estey EH, Löwenberg B, Naoe T, et al. Management of acute promyelocytic leukemia: updated recommendations from an expert panel of the European LeukemiaNet. Blood. 2019;133(15):1630-43. [DOI:10.1182/blood-2019-01-894980] [PMID]
  30. Kuchenbauer F, Schoch C, Kern W, Hiddemann W, Haferlach T, Schnittger S. Impact of FLT3 mutations and promyelocytic leukaemia‐breakpoint on clinical characteristics and prognosis in acute promyelocytic leukaemia. Br J Haematol. 2005;130(2):196-202. [DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2141.2005.05595.x] [PMID]
  31. Vahdat L, Maslak P, Miller WJ, Eardley A, Heller G, Scheinberg DA, et al. Early mortality and the retinoic acid syndrome in acute promyelocytic leukemia: impact of leukocytosis, low-dose chemotherapy, PMN/RAR-alpha isoform, and CD13 expression in patients treated with all-trans retinoic acid. Blood. 1994. [DOI:10.1182/blood.V84.11.3843.bloodjournal84113843] [PMID]
  32. Huang W, Sun G-L, Li X-S, Cao Q, Lu Y, Jang G-S, et al. Acute promyelocytic leukemia: clinical relevance of two major PML-RAR alpha isoforms and detection of minimal residual disease by retrotranscriptase/polymerase chain reaction to predict relapse. Blood. 1993. [DOI:10.1182/blood.V82.4.1264.bloodjournal8241264] [PMID]
  33. Jurcic JG, Nimer SD, Scheinberg DA, DeBlasio T, Warrell Jr RP, Miller Jr WH. Prognostic significance of minimal residual disease detection and PML/RAR-α isoform type: long-term follow-up in acute promyelocytic leukemia. Blood. 2001;98(9):2651-6. [DOI:10.1182/blood.V98.9.2651] [PMID]
  34. Yedla RP, Bala SC, Pydi VR, Kuruva SP, Chennamaneni R, Konatam ML, et al. Outcomes in adult acute promyelocytic leukemia: a decade experience. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 2020;20(4):e158-e64. [DOI:10.1016/j.clml.2019.12.011] [PMID]
  35. Gupta V, Yi Q-L, Brandwein J, Chun K, Lipton JH, Messner H, et al. Clinico-biological features and prognostic significance of pml/rarα isoforms in adult patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia treated with all trans retinoic acid (atra) and chemotherapy. Leuk Lymphoma. 2004;45(3):469-80. [DOI:10.1080/10428190310001617295] [PMID]
  36. Baba SM, Shah ZA, Pandith AA, Jan A, Mir KA, Aziz SA, et al. Influence of bcr-3 PML-RARα transcript on outcome in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia patients of Kashmir treated with all-trans retinoic acid and/or arsenic tri-oxide. Cancer Genet. 2019;231:14-21. [DOI:10.1016/j.cancergen.2018.12.003] [PMID]
  37. Guglielmi C, Paola Martelli M, Diverio D, Fenu S, Luce Vegna M, CantÙ‐Rajnoldi A, et al. Immunophenotype of adult and childhood acute promyelocytic leukaemia: correlation with morphology, type of PML gene breakpoint and clinical outcome. A cooperative Italian study on 196 cases. Br J Haematol. 1998;102(4):1035-41. [DOI:10.1046/j.1365-2141.1998.00871.x] [PMID]
  38. Nath S, Bhattacharyya J, Chandra P, Saxena R, Sazawal S, Saikia KK. Clinicopathological significance of common genetic alterations in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Hematol Oncol Stem Cell Ther. 2020. [DOI:10.1016/j.hemonc.2020.07.004] [PMID]
  39. Ahmad EI, Hashem ME, Elgohary TAM. The biological characteristics of adult CD34+ acute promyelocytic leukemia. Med Oncol. 2012;29(2):1119-26. [DOI:10.1007/s12032-011-9895-y] [PMID]
  40. Rasekh EO, Elsayed GM, Madney Y, El Gammal MM. Prognostic significance of bcr-1 and bcr-3 isoforms of PML-RARA and FLT3-ITD in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 2020;20(3):156-67. [DOI:10.1016/j.clml.2019.08.006] [PMID]
  41. Benedetti L, Levin AA, Scicchitano BM, Grignani F, Allenby G, Diverio D, et al. Characterization of the retinoid binding properties of the major fusion products present in acute promyelocytic leukemia cells. Blood. 1997;90(3):1175-85. [DOI:10.1182/blood.V90.3.1175] [PMID]
  42. De Botton S, Sanz M, Chevret S, Dombret H, Martin G, Thomas X, et al. Extramedullary relapse in acute promyelocytic leukemia treated with all-trans retinoic acid and chemotherapy. Leukemia. 2006;20(1):35-41. [DOI:10.1038/sj.leu.2404006] [PMID]
  43. Khan M, Khan SA, Altaf C, Malik HS, Ahmed P, Nisar H. 3 ISOFORMS OF PML RARα IN ACUTE PROMYELOCYTIC LEUKAEMIA. PAFMJ. 2018;68(6):1677-82.
  44. Sučić M, Zadro R, Burazer B, Labar B, Nemet D, Mrsić M, et al. Acute promyelocytic leukemia M3: cytomorphologic, immunophenotypic, cytogenetic, and molecular variants. J Hematother Stem Cell Res. 2002;11(6):941-50. [DOI:10.1089/152581602321080600] [PMID]
  45. Cheson BD, Cassileth PA, Head DR, Schiffer CA, Bennett JM, Bloomfield CD, et al. Report of the National Cancer Institute-sponsored workshop on definitions of diagnosis and response in acute myeloid leukemia. J Clin Oncol. 1990;8(5):813-9. [DOI:10.1200/JCO.1990.8.5.813] [PMID]
  46. Tallman MS, Nabhan C, Feusner JH, Rowe JM. Acute promyelocytic leukemia: evolving therapeutic strategies. Blood. 2002;99(3):759-67. [DOI:10.1182/blood.V99.3.759] [PMID]
  47. Sanz MA, Grimwade D, Tallman MS, Lowenberg B, Fenaux P, Estey EH, et al. Management of acute promyelocytic leukemia: recommendations from an expert panel on behalf of the European LeukemiaNet. Blood. 2009;113(9):1875-91. [DOI:10.1182/blood-2008-04-150250] [PMID]
  48. Kotiah SD, Besa EC. Sarkodee-Adoo C, Talavera F, Sacher RA, McKenna R, Besa, EC (eds.). "Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia". : Medscape Reference. WebMD.; June 3, 2013 [updated Mar 19, 2021; cited 2023 Feb 4]. Drug and Disease. Available from: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1495306-overview#a6.
  49. society Ac. Treatment of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) [webpage]. American cancer society webpage: American cancer society; 2018 [updated 21 augest 2018; cited 2022 15 july 2022]. Available from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/acute-myeloid-leukemia/treating/m3-leukemia.html.
  50. [Guideline] National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Acute Myeloid Leukemia. NCCN. Available at http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/aml.pdf. Version 3.2021 - March 2, 2021; Accessed: March 19, 2021.
  51. Cheson BD, Bennett JM, Kopecky KJ, Büchner T, Willman CL, Estey EH, et al. Revised recommendations of the international working group for diagnosis, standardization of response criteria, treatment outcomes, and reporting standards for therapeutic trials in acute myeloid leukemia. J Clin Oncol. 2003;21(24):4642-9. [DOI:10.1200/JCO.2003.04.036] [PMID]
  52. Creutzig U, Kaspers G. Revised recommendations of the International Working Group for diagnosis, standardization of response criteria, treatment outcomes, and reporting standards for therapeutic trials in acute myeloid leukemia. J Clin Oncol. 2004;22(16):3432-3. [DOI:10.1200/JCO.2004.99.116] [PMID]
  53. Hozier J, Lindquist LL. Banded karyotypes from bone marrow: A clinical useful approach. Hum Genet. 1980;53(2):205-9. [DOI:10.1007/BF00273497] [PMID]
  54. Margaret J. Barch TK, Jack L. Spurbeck The AGT Cytogenetics Laboratory Manual. In: Margaret J. Barch (Editor) TKE, Jack L. Spurbeck (Editor), editor. The AGT Cytogenetics Laboratory Manual. 1. 3rd Ed ed. Philadelphia,USA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Subsequent edition (January 1, 1997); 1997. p. 688.
  55. Gabert J, Beillard E, Van der Velden V, Bi W, Grimwade D, Pallisgaard N, et al. Standardization and quality control studies of 'real-time'quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction of fusion gene transcripts for residual disease detection in leukemia-a Europe Against Cancer program. Leukemia. 2003;17(12):2318-57. [DOI:10.1038/sj.leu.2403135] [PMID]
  56. Van Dongen J, Macintyre E, Gabert J, Delabesse E, Rossi V, Saglio G, et al. Standardized RT-PCR analysis of fusion gene transcripts from chromosome aberrations in acute leukemia for detection of minimal residual disease. Leukemia. 1999;13(12):1901-28. [DOI:10.1038/sj.leu.2401592] [PMID]
  57. Grimwade D, Howe K, Langabeer S, Davies L, Oliver F, Walker H, et al. Establishing the presence of the t (15; 17) in suspected acute promyelocytic leukaemia: cytogenetic, molecular and PML immunofluorescence assessment of patients entered into the MRC ATRA trial. MRC Adult Leukaemia Working Party. Br J Haematol. 1996;94(3):557-73. [DOI:10.1046/j.1365-2141.1996.d01-1004.x] [PMID]
  58. Chomczynski P, Sacchi N. The single-step method of RNA isolation by acid guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform extraction: twenty-something years on. Nat Protoc. 2006;1(2):581-5. [DOI:10.1038/nprot.2006.83] [PMID]
  59. De La Serna J, Montesinos P, Vellenga E, Rayon C, Parody R, León A, et al. Causes and prognostic factors of remission induction failure in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia treated with all-trans retinoic acid and idarubicin. Blood. 2008;111(7):3395-402. [DOI:10.1182/blood-2007-07-100669] [PMID]
  60. Ruiz-Argüelles GJ, Garcés-Eisele J, Reyes-Núñez V, Gómez-Rangel JD, Ruiz-Delgado GJ. More on geographic hematology: the breakpoint cluster regions of the PML/RARα fusion gene in Mexican Mestizo patients with promyelocytic leukemia are different from those in Caucasians. Leuk Lymphoma. 2004;45(7):1365-8. [DOI:10.1080/10428190310001657344] [PMID]
  61. Rostami S, Abroun S, Noruzinia M, Ghavamzadeh A, Alimoghaddam K. Impact of FLT-3 mutations on clinical features and response to the therapy in acute promyelocytic leukemia patients. Sci J Iran Blood Transfus Organ. 2012;8(4):242-50.
  62. Melo CPS, Campos CB, Dutra ÁP, Neto JCA, Fenelon AJS, Neto AH, et al. Correlation between FLT3-ITD status and clinical, cellular and molecular profiles in promyelocytic acute leukemias. Leuk Res. 2015;39(2):131-7. [DOI:10.1016/j.leukres.2014.11.010] [PMID]
  63. Mathews V, Thomas M, Srivastava VM, George B, Srivastava A, Chandy M. Impact of FLT3 mutations and secondary cytogenetic changes on the outcome of patients with newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia treated with a single agent arsenic trioxide regimen. Haematol. 2007;92(7):994-5. [DOI:10.3324/haematol.10802] [PMID]
  64. Douer D. The epidemiology of acute promyelocytic leukaemia. Best Pract Res Clin Haematol. 2003;16(3):357-67. [DOI:10.1016/S1521-6926(03)00065-3] [PMID]
  65. Asvadi Kermani I, Asvadi Kermani T, Asvadi Kermani A. Effects of clinical, hematological and immuno-phenotyping factors on prognosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Pejouhesh dar Pezeshki. 2007;31(3):233-9.
  66. Ayatollahi H, Bazi A, Sadeghian MH, Fani A, Siyadat P, Sheikhi M, et al. The survival of patients with t (15; 17)(q22; q12) positive acute promyelocytic leukemia: A study in north-east of iran. Iran J Pathol. 2020;15(3):175. [DOI:10.30699/ijp.2020.101417.2007] [PMID]
  67. Schiffer CA, Stone RM. Acute myeloid leukemia in adults. Holland-Frei Cancer Medicine 5th edition: BC Decker; 2000.
  68. Howlader N, Noone A, Krapcho M, Neyman N, Aminou R, Altekruse S, et al. SEER cancer statistics review, 1975-2009 (vintage 2009 populations), National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD. 2012.
  69. Chen Y, Kantarjian H, Wang H, Cortes J, Ravandi F. Acute promyelocytic leukemia: A population‐based study on incidence and survival in the United States, 1975‐ Cancer. 2012;118(23):5811-8. [DOI:10.1002/cncr.27623] [PMID] []
  70. Dinmohamed AG, Visser O. Incidence of acute promyelocytic leukemia across Europe: results of RARECAREnet-a population-based study. Stem Cell Investig. 2019;6. [DOI:10.21037/sci.2019.10.03] [PMID]
  71. Sunil K, Devi S, Fatima J. Clinico hematological profile of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Hematol Transfus Int J. 2017;4(2):00079. [DOI:10.15406/htij.2017.04.00079]
  72. Hassan K, Zaheer HA, Hussain J, Qazi H, Ikram N, Naseem L, et al. Clinical features and hematological investigations pattern in acute promyelocytic leukemia patients. Int J Pathol. 2005;3:71-5.
  73. Greenlee RT, Hill‐Harmon MB, Murray T, Thun M. Cancer statistics, 2001. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians. 2001;51(1):15-36. [DOI:10.3322/canjclin.51.1.15] [PMID]
  74. Cingam SR, Koshy NV. Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia. [Updated 2022 Jun 27]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan- [Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459352/.
  75. McClellan JS, Kohrt HE, Coutre S, Gotlib JR, Majeti R, Alizadeh AA, et al. Treatment advances have not improved the early death rate in acute promyelocytic leukemia. Haematol. 2012;97(1):133-6. [DOI:10.3324/haematol.2011.046490] [PMID]
  76. Avvisati G, Mele A, Stazi M, Vegna M, Pasquini P, Mandelli F, et al. Epidemiology of acute promyelocytic leukemia in Italy. Ann Oncol. 1991;2(6):405-8. [DOI:10.1093/oxfordjournals.annonc.a057974] [PMID]
  77. Blum W, Bloomfield CD.Acute myeloid leukemia. In:Jameson J, Fauci AS, Kasper DL, Hauser SL, Longo DL, Loscalzo J. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 20 ed: McGraw Hill; 2018. p. 739-48.
  78. Testa U, Lo-Coco F. Prognostic factors in acute promyelocytic leukemia: strategies to define high-risk patients. Ann Hematol. 2016;95:673-80. [DOI:10.1007/s00277-016-2622-1] [PMID]
  79. Lee JJ, Cho D, Chung IJ, Cho SH, Park KS, Park MR, et al. CD34 expression is associated with poor clinical outcome in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Am J Hematol. 2003;73(3):149-53. [DOI:10.1002/ajh.10337] [PMID]
  80. Foley R, Soamboonsrup P, Carter R, Benger A, Meyer R, Walker I, et al. CD34‐positive acute promyelocytic leukemia is associated with leukocytosis, microgranular/hypogranular morphology, expression of CD2 and bcr3 isoform. Am J Hematol. 2001;67(1):34-41. [DOI:10.1002/ajh.1073] [PMID]
  81. Albano F, Mestice A, Pannunzio A, Lanza F, Martino B, Pastore D, et al. The biological characteristics of CD34+ CD2+ adult acute promyelocytic leukemia and the CD34 CD2 hypergranular (M3) and microgranular (M3v) phenotypes. Haematol. 2006;91(3):311-6.
  82. Cervera J, Montesinos P, Hernández-Rivas JM, Calasanz MJ, Aventín A, Ferro MT, et al. Additional chromosome abnormalities in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia treated with all-trans retinoic acid and chemotherapy. Haematol. 2010;95(3):424. [DOI:10.3324/haematol.2009.013243] [PMID]
  83. Lehmann S, Ravn A, Carlsson L, Antunovic P, Deneberg S, Möllgård L, et al. Continuing high early death rate in acute promyelocytic leukemia: a population-based report from the Swedish Adult Acute Leukemia Registry. Leukemia. 2011;25(7):1128-34. [DOI:10.1038/leu.2011.78] [PMID]
  84. Breccia M, Latagliata R, Cannella L, Minotti C, Meloni G, Lo-Coco F. Early hemorrhagic death before starting therapy in acute promyelocytic leukemia: association with high WBC count, late diagnosis and delayed treatment initiation. Haematol. 2010;95(5):853-4. [DOI:10.3324/haematol.2009.017962] [PMID]
  85. Tallman MS, Andersen JW, Schiffer CA, Appelbaum FR, Feusner JH, Woods WG, et al. All-trans retinoic acid in acute promyelocytic leukemia: long-term outcome and prognostic factor analysis from the North American Intergroup protocol: Presented in part at the 39th meeting of the American Society of Hematology, New Orleans, LA, December 1999. Blood. 2002;100(13):4298-302. [DOI:10.1182/blood-2002-02-0632] [PMID]
  86. Osman AE, Anderson J, Churpek JE, Christ TN, Curran E, Godley LA, et al. Treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia in adults. J Oncol Pract. 2018;14(11):649-57. [DOI:10.1200/JOP.18.00328] [PMID]
  87. Ades L, Guerci A, Raffoux E, Sanz M, Chevallier P, Lapusan S, et al. Very long-term outcome of acute promyelocytic leukemia after treatment with all-trans retinoic acid and chemotherapy: the European APL Group experience. Blood. 2010;115(9):1690-6. [DOI:10.1182/blood-2009-07-233387] [PMID]
  88. Shetty AV, Ravandi F, Alapati N, Borthakur G, Garcia-Manero G, Kadia TM, et al. Survivorship in APL-outcomes of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) patients (pts) after maintaining complete remission (CR) for at least 3 years. Blood. 2014;124(21):954. [DOI:10.1182/blood.V124.21.954.954]
  89. de Botton S, Chevret S, Sanz M, Dombret H, Thomas X, Guerci A, et al. Additional chromosomal abnormalities in patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) do not confer poor prognosis: results of APL 93 trial. Br J Haematol. 2000;111(3):801-6. [DOI:10.1046/j.1365-2141.2000.02442.x] [PMID]
  90. Chou W, Tang J, Yao M, Liang Y, Lee F, Lin M, et al. Clinical and biological characteristics of acute promyelocytic leukemia in Taiwan: a high relapse rate in patients with high initial and peak white blood cell counts during all-trans retinoic acid treatment. Leukemia. 1997;11(7):921-8. [DOI:10.1038/sj.leu.2400690] [PMID]