PATHOGENESIS IS AND MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE PROMYELOCYTIC LEUKEMIA

Acute promyelocytic leukemia, formerly a highly lethal disease, was re cently shown to be highly responsive to treatment with the natural ret inoid, all-trans retinoic acid. This compound induces terminal differe ntiation of the malignant cells and produces complete remission in mos t patients with this disease. The clinical response is due in part to the presence of a chromosomal break that occurs in a gene that encodes a nuclear retinoic acid receptor.