Differentiation induction therapy with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in a patient with secondary 11q23 leukemia

Purpose: Frequently recurrent leukemia is encountered in childhood and is usually resistant to multidrug therapy. We evaluated the efficacy of differentiation induction therapy in a child with leukemia. Patient and Methods: We administered all-tuans retinoic acid (ATRA) alone, and then a combination of low-dose 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (Ara-C), to a 7-year-old boy who had leukemia secondary to etoposide with chromosomal abnormality 11q23. Results: The patient exhibited a good response to ATRA, and had a complete remission after combination therapy of ATRA and low-dose Ara-C. Conclusion: Differentiation induction therapy with ATRA was effective in treating a patient with recurrence of leukemia without t(15;17) translocation, and which is resistant to conventional cytotoxic treatment.