Pathogenesis and management of acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia, formerly a highly lethal disease, was recently shown to be highly responsive to treatment with the natural retinoid, all-trans retinoic acid. This compound induces terminal differentiation of the malignant cells and produces complete remission in most patients with this disease. The clinical response is due in part to the presence of a chromosomal break that occurs in a gene that encodes a nuclear retinoic acid receptor.