What is the difference between AML and APML?

What is the difference between AML and APML?

Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APML) is a rare sub-type of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and is sometimes referred to as AML M31. APML accounts for only 10% of all AML diagnoses. In APML, immature abnormal neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) known as promyelocytes accumulate in the bone marrow.

What is APML?

Acute promyelocytic leukemia is a form of acute myeloid leukemia, a cancer of the blood-forming tissue (bone marrow ).

Is APML same as APL?

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APML, APL) is a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a cancer of the white blood cells. In APL, there is an abnormal accumulation of immature granulocytes called promyelocytes.

How is acute promyelocytic leukemia diagnosed?

The diagnosis of APL is based on an evaluation of the clinical presentation, morphology, immunophenotyping, karyotype, RT-PCR, FISH and immunofluorescence with anti-PML monoclonal antibodies. The redundancy of diagnostic tests is beneficial because of the broad and indistinct characterization of the disease.

What does ATRA do in APML?

All-Trans Retinoic Acid (ATRA) ATRA targets and eliminates the PML/RARα abnormality. This treatment causes a marked decrease in the concentration of leukemic blast cells in the marrow, and a remission frequently follows. Used alone, ATRA can induce a short-term remission in at least 80 percent of patients.

What is the best treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia?

The most important drugs for treating APL are non-chemo drugs called differentiating agents, like all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). Other treatments might include chemotherapy (chemo) and transfusions of platelets or other blood products.

Is APML curable?

Treatment Outcomes Because of advances in diagnostic techniques and modern treatments, APL is today considered to be the most curable subtype of acute myeloid leukemia in adults, with complete remission rates of 90 percent and cure rates of approximately 80 percent and even higher among low-risk patients.

Can APML be cured?

Abstract. Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has become a curable disease by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)-based induction therapy followed by two or three courses of consolidation chemotherapy.

What causes promyelocytic leukemia?

APL is caused by the uncontrolled proliferation of promyelocytes, a type of immature cell from the myeloid lineage of blood cells. The hallmark of APL is genetic alterations involving the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARA) gene.

Can Apml come back?

Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) treatment If you do go into remission, but the cancer comes back, this is known as a relapse. This is especially rare if you were treated with ATRA and arsenic trioxide.

Can Apml spread?

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a form of blood cancer. APL is an aggressive cancer, meaning it can grow and spread rapidly.

How long is treatment for Apml?

People with APML are also treated with arsenic trioxide. This is given daily, through a drip into a vein. Induction with ATRA and arsenic trioxide is usually given over 5–6 weeks.

What are the symptoms of acute promyelocytic leukemia?

Symptoms of APL They include fevers, fatigue, loss of appetite, and frequent infections. People with APL are also at an increased risk of bleeding and forming blood clots. This is because of the shortage of platelets in their blood and changes in the level of abnormal proteins in the blood.

Why is APL an emergency?

In fact, APL represents a medical emergency with a high rate of early mortality, due mainly to hemorrhagic complications from a characteristic coagulopathy.

Which type of leukemia is most curable?

While it is similar in many ways to the other subtypes, APL is distinctive and has a specific treatment regime. Treatment outcomes for APL are very good, and it is considered the most curable type of leukemia, with cure rates as high as 90%.

How does arsenic work in APML?

How it works. Arsenic works by speeding up the death of leukaemic cells and encouraging normal blood cells to develop properly. It does this by working on particular proteins within the cell.

Is ATRA cytotoxic?

ATRA is an anti-cancer (“antineoplastic” or “cytotoxic”) chemotherapy drug.

How do you treat relapsed APML?

Treatment of relapsed/advanced APL includes the use of arsenic trioxide (ATO), gemtuzumab ozogamicin, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. ATO is currently the most effective therapeutic agent in relapsed APL.