Outcome of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has greatly improved since the introduction of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). Treatment with ATRA and anthracycline-based chemotherapy (ATRA + chemotherapy) decreases relapses of the disease as well as early hemorrhagic deaths. Nowadays patients with APL have an event-free survival (EFS) of up to 80%. However, there remains a subset of the patients in whom the disease relapses. Recently, a randomized prospective study showed that the addition of ATO to "ATRA + chemotherapy" treatment protocol had a significantly higher EFS in patients with APL than those treated with "ATRA + chemotherapy" protocol. The patients treated with "ATO + ATRA + chemotherapy" had a five years EFS of 89.2%. Moreover, a recent study showed that Indigo naturalis formula (RIF), a traditional Chinese medicine with tetraarsenic tetrasulfide (As4S4), indirubin, and tanshinone IIA as major active ingredients, yielded synergy in the treatment of a murine APL model in vivo and in the induction of APL cell differentiation in vitro . It is about 20 years since RIF was used to treat ALP in China. Clinical studies showed that this agent was effective against APL. Compared to ATO, RIF is relatively inexpensive and can be taken orally, resulting in reducing the number of hospital days and the treatment cost. However, there is no report comparing treatment outcomes of "ATO + ATRA + chemotherapy" and "RIF + ATRA + chemotherapy" protocols in children with APL so far. For this purpose, therefore, investigators are going to conduct a multicenter and randomized prospective study in children with APL.
Age range
16 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
event-free survival
Timeframe: 5 years