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Cell dynamics during differentiation therapy with all-trans retinoic acid in acute promyelocytic leukemia

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A Correction to this article was published on 12 August 2018

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Abstract

The introduction of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has made acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) a curable disease; however, early death prior to the completion of treatment remains a problem. In quantitative evaluation of response to ATRA treatment, lymphocytes must be excluded as they do not originally have t(15;17). We categorized peripheral blood leukocytes by nuclear morphology into polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) comprising segmented granulocytes, and non-polymorphonuclear cells (NPMs) which includes lymphocytes, monocytes, band cells, and immature myeloid cells. We consecutively evaluated the ratio of t(15;17)-positive cells using fluorescence in situ hybridization in eight newly diagnosed patients with APL. We confirmed the differentiation of APL cells until cytogenetic complete remission; the association of a decrease of t(15;17)-positive NPMs and an increase of t(15;17)-positive PMNs was followed by a decrease of t(15;17)-positive PMNs. The kinetic pattern of t(15;17)-positive NPMs and PMNs was consistent in most patients, irrespective of leukocyte counts at diagnosis, additional chromosomal changes, and ATRA with or without chemotherapies. Kinetic analysis enables us to evaluate treatment response and the recovery of normal hematopoiesis in individuals.

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Change history

  • 12 August 2018

    In the original publication of the article, Table 2 was published incorrectly. The column names were swapped under the column heading “Prom (%)”. The correct column names are PB and BM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 216-8511, Japan

    Kazuyuki Sato, Hirotaka Sakai, Yusuke Saiki, Akiko Uchida, Yu Uemura, Satoshi Yokoi, Yuka Tsuruoka, Yuji Nishio, Manabu Matsunawa, Yoshinori Suzuki, Yasushi Isobe, Masayuki Kato, Naoto Tomita, Yasuyuki Inoue & Ikuo Miura

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  1. Kazuyuki Sato
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  2. Hirotaka Sakai
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  3. Yusuke Saiki
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  4. Akiko Uchida
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  5. Yu Uemura
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Correspondence to Hirotaka Sakai.

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I. M. is a consultant for SRL, Inc.

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Sato, K., Sakai, H., Saiki, Y. et al. Cell dynamics during differentiation therapy with all-trans retinoic acid in acute promyelocytic leukemia. Int J Hematol 108, 274–281 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-018-2472-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-018-2472-9

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