Getting to the heart of improving outcomes for patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia.

The management of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has been transformed over the course of the last two decades following the introduction of successful molecularly targeted therapies—all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO)— which act in concert to induce degradation of the PMLRARα oncoprotein formed by the chromosomal translocation t(15;17)(q22;q21). The review by Stein and Tallman highlights several issues that are pertinent in the management of APL, including the importance of rapid diagnosis, prompt initiation of therapy, and use of the most appropriate management strategy, given that a significant proportion of patients may be cured without the need for conventional chemotherapy.