Objective: To analyze the effect of additional chromosome abnormalities on the prognosis and the clinical manifestations of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and the reaction of the patients with additional chromosomes to the treatment of combination of red arsenic sulfide, all trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and anthracyclin.
Methods: The clinical data of 158 patients with newly diagnosed APL who were treated with combination of red arsenic sulfide, ATRA, and anthracyclin were analyzed retrospectively.
Results: The frequency of additional chromosome abnormalities in the APL patients was 18.4%, and trisomy 8 and i17q- were the most to be seen. The disseminated intravascular coagulation rate of the patients with additional chromosome abnormality was 62.1%, significantly higher than that of the patients without additional chromosome abnormality (35.6%, P < 0.05). The complete remission rate of the patients with additional chromosome abnormality was 75.9%, not significantly lower than that of those without additional chromosome abnormality (90.7%), and the relapse rate and incidence rate of central nervous system leukemia were 13.8% and 17.2%, both higher, but not significantly, than those of the patients without additional chromosome abnormality (6.2% and 6.2% respectively) (all P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in survival rate between these 2 groups (P = 0.160).
Conclusion: Additional chromosome abnormality does not significantly influence the prognosis of APL treated with combination of red arsenic sulfide, ATRA, and anthracyclin.