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RecruitingNCT04251754Updated Oct 4, 2022

The Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia Asian Consortium (APL-AC) Project

An observational study in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia, sponsored by The University of Hong Kong. Recruiting at 1 site in Hong Kong. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2022-10-04.

Sponsored by The University of Hong Kong · Observational

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was expected by Jan 2025, 1 year 9 months ago, but the record still lists the study as recruiting.
  • Started Feb 2020; still recruiting 6 years 8 months later.
Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Other
Enrollment
1,000
Sex
All
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Study summary

There is currently lack of collaborative data on the epidemiology, clinicopathologic features and treatment outcome of newly diagnosed and relapsed APL in Asia. In addition, there is lack of data comparing oral- As2O3-based regimens with other treatment approaches, including intravenous As2O3,in the frontline or relapsed setting. With the long-term data of oral-As2O3 based regimen for APL available from Hong Kong, retrospective and prospective comparison with other treatment approaches in other Asian countries will generate important information to pave the way for widespread application of oral-As2O3 outside Hong Kong.

Read the detailed description

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is characterized by t(15;17)(q24;21) and the fusion gene PML-RARA.1 In newly-diagnosed patients, optimal supportive care together with the use of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and chemotherapy results in first complete remission (CR1) in excess of 90% with durable remissions in about 80% of patients.Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) given intravenously (i.v.-As2O3) is highly efficacious for APL in first relapse (R1), inducing second complete remission (CR2) in more than 90% of patients. We have formulated an oral preparation of As2O3 (oral-As2O3), and shown that it is efficacious for APL in R1, giving CR2 rates of more than 90% in both adults and children. For patients in CR2, a 2-year maintenance with oral-As2O3 results in durable remission and long-term survivals in more than 60% and 70% of patients respectively strongly suggesting that hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) could be obviated in such patients. With these results, we implemented oral-As2O3 maintenance in CR1 in Hong Kong and demonstrated very favourable overall-survival (OS) and leukemia-free-survival (LFS). This implied that that prolonged oral-As2O3 treatment may prevent relapses.

Meanwhile, i.v.-As2O3 has also been tested in the frontline treatment of newly-diagnosed APL.These studies employed different strategies, recruiting a mixture of low-, intermediate- to high-risk patients and placing i.v.-As2O3 in induction and/or consolidation. During induction, i.v.-As2O3 was combined with ATRA, with additional gemtuzumab ozogamicin (an anti-CD33 immunoconjugate) or chemotherapy. During consolidation, i.v.-As2O3 was combined with conventional chemotherapy. Their results all indicated that frontline use of i.v.-As2O3 in induction and/or consolidation improved the outcome of newly-diagnosed APL patients. However, with quite diverse protocols and the enrollment in some studies of only patients with low to intermediate risks, and in other studies of patients with all risk categories; the optimal strategy of employing i.v.-As2O3 in newly-diagnosed APL remains to be defined. We have tested oral- As2O3 in combination with ATRA, ascorbic acid (AAA) with daunorubicin in both low-risk and high-risk APL with 3 year LFS and OS of both 100%.

With the impressive results of oral-As2O3-based regimen in newly diagnosed and relapsed APL, an important future perspective is the application of this relatively economical and convenient approach to the treatment of patients with APL in Asia and other developing countries around the world where the cost and availability of intravenous formulation of As2O3 is a concern. There is currently lack of collaborative data on the epidemiology, clinicopathologic features and treatment outcome of newly diagnosed and relapsed APL in Asia. In addition, there is lack of data comparing oral- As2O3-based regimens with other treatment approaches, including intravenous As2O3,in the frontline or relapsed setting. With the long-term data of oral-As2O3 based regimen for APL available from Hong Kong, retrospective and prospective comparison with other treatment approaches in other Asian countries will generate important information to pave the way for widespread application of oral-As2O3 outside Hong Kong.

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Conditions studied

  • Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia
03

In context

Leukemia

5,441 studies on the registry are indexed under Leukemia; 636 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 1,000 is above the median of 120 across 744 observational studies indexed under Leukemia.

Browse Leukemia studies →

Lead sponsor

The University of Hong Kong is the lead sponsor of 1,262 studies on the registry; 340 are open to participants now.

Of its 8 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 0 (0%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
Child (0–17), Adult (18–64), Older adult (65+)
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

This is a retrospective-prospective cohort study for all patients diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukaemia since 2010 in Hong Kong and participating countries in Asia.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients aged 18 or above
  • Acute promyelocytic leukaemia with PML/RARA
  • Acute myeloid leukaemia with variant RARA translocation

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria:

-Acute myeloid leukaemia without PML/RARA or variant RARA translocation

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Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Other
Enrollment
1,000 participants (estimated)
Patient registry
No
06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Survivals

    The primary outcome measures in this study include the overall survival (OS) and the relapse-free survival (RFS). OS is defined as the time (in months) from diagnosis to death from any cause (event) or latest follow-up. RFS is defined as the time from first complete remission (CR)/complete remission with incomplete haematological recovery (CRi) to first hamatologic relapse or molecular relapse (R1) (event), death from any cause (event) or latest follow-up (censor). CR, CRi, treatment failure, haematologic relapse are defined according to the 2017 European LeukemiaNet (ELN) recommendations. A molecular relapse is defined as recurrence of measurable residual disease (MRD) by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or real-time quantitative PCR (qRT PCR). A single MRD positivity must be confirmed by performing the molecular assay within 2 weeks.

    Time frame: 60 months

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Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • Department of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital
    Hong Kong, Hong Kong
    • Harinder Singh Harry Gill, MD · Contact · gillhsh@hku.hk · +852 22554254
    Recruiting
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References and documents

Publications

  • Tallman MS, Altman JK. How I treat acute promyelocytic leukemia. Blood. 2009 Dec 10;114(25):5126-35. doi: 10.1182/blood-2009-07-216457. PubMed 19797519 ↗
  • Tallman MS, Andersen JW, Schiffer CA, Appelbaum FR, Feusner JH, Woods WG, Ogden A, Weinstein H, Shepherd L, Willman C, Bloomfield CD, Rowe JM, Wiernik PH. All-trans retinoic acid in acute promyelocytic leukemia: long-term outcome and prognostic factor analysis from the North American Intergroup protocol. Blood. 2002 Dec 15;100(13):4298-302. doi: 10.1182/blood-2002-02-0632. Epub 2002 Aug 15. PubMed 12393590 ↗
  • Lengfelder E, Haferlach C, Saussele S, Haferlach T, Schultheis B, Schnittger S, Ludwig WD, Staib P, Aul C, Gruneisen A, Kern W, Reichle A, Serve H, Berdel WE, Braess J, Spiekermann K, Wormann B, Sauerland MC, Heinecke A, Hiddemann W, Hehlmann R, Buchner T; German AML Cooperative Group. High dose ara-C in the treatment of newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia: long-term results of the German AMLCG. Leukemia. 2009 Dec;23(12):2248-58. doi: 10.1038/leu.2009.183. Epub 2009 Sep 10. PubMed 19741727 ↗
  • Lo-Coco F, Avvisati G, Vignetti M, Breccia M, Gallo E, Rambaldi A, Paoloni F, Fioritoni G, Ferrara F, Specchia G, Cimino G, Diverio D, Borlenghi E, Martinelli G, Di Raimondo F, Di Bona E, Fazi P, Peta A, Bosi A, Carella AM, Fabbiano F, Pogliani EM, Petti MC, Amadori S, Mandelli F; Italian GIMEMA Cooperative Group. Front-line treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia with AIDA induction followed by risk-adapted consolidation for adults younger than 61 years: results of the AIDA-2000 trial of the GIMEMA Group. Blood. 2010 Oct 28;116(17):3171-9. doi: 10.1182/blood-2010-03-276196. Epub 2010 Jul 19. PubMed 20644121 ↗
  • Kelaidi C, Chevret S, De Botton S, Raffoux E, Guerci A, Thomas X, Pigneux A, Lamy T, Rigal-Huguet F, Meyer-Monard S, Chevallier P, Maloisel F, Deconinck E, Ferrant A, Fegueux N, Ifrah N, Sanz M, Dombret H, Fenaux P, Ades L. Improved outcome of acute promyelocytic leukemia with high WBC counts over the last 15 years: the European APL Group experience. J Clin Oncol. 2009 Jun 1;27(16):2668-76. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2008.18.4119. Epub 2009 May 4. PubMed 19414681 ↗
  • Niu C, Yan H, Yu T, Sun HP, Liu JX, Li XS, Wu W, Zhang FQ, Chen Y, Zhou L, Li JM, Zeng XY, Yang RR, Yuan MM, Ren MY, Gu FY, Cao Q, Gu BW, Su XY, Chen GQ, Xiong SM, Zhang TD, Waxman S, Wang ZY, Chen Z, Hu J, Shen ZX, Chen SJ. Studies on treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia with arsenic trioxide: remission induction, follow-up, and molecular monitoring in 11 newly diagnosed and 47 relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia patients. Blood. 1999 Nov 15;94(10):3315-24. PubMed 10552940 ↗
  • Soignet SL, Frankel SR, Douer D, Tallman MS, Kantarjian H, Calleja E, Stone RM, Kalaycio M, Scheinberg DA, Steinherz P, Sievers EL, Coutre S, Dahlberg S, Ellison R, Warrell RP Jr. United States multicenter study of arsenic trioxide in relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia. J Clin Oncol. 2001 Sep 15;19(18):3852-60. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2001.19.18.3852. PubMed 11559723 ↗
  • Au WY, Li CK, Lee V, Yuen HL, Yau J, Chan GC, Ha SY, Kwong YL. Oral arsenic trioxide for relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia in pediatric patients. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2012 Apr;58(4):630-2. doi: 10.1002/pbc.23306. Epub 2011 Sep 2. PubMed 21898784 ↗
  • Gill H, Yim R, Lee HKK, Mak V, Lin SY, Kho B, Yip SF, Lau JSM, Li W, Ip HW, Hwang YY, Chan TSY, Tse E, Au WY, Kumana CR, Kwong YL. Long-term outcome of relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia treated with oral arsenic trioxide-based reinduction and maintenance regimens: A 15-year prospective study. Cancer. 2018 Jun 1;124(11):2316-2326. doi: 10.1002/cncr.31327. Epub 2018 Mar 26. PubMed 29579321 ↗
  • Au WY, Kumana CR, Lee HK, Lin SY, Liu H, Yeung DY, Lau JS, Kwong YL. Oral arsenic trioxide-based maintenance regimens for first complete remission of acute promyelocytic leukemia: a 10-year follow-up study. Blood. 2011 Dec 15;118(25):6535-43. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-05-354530. Epub 2011 Oct 12. PubMed 21998212 ↗
  • Hu J, Liu YF, Wu CF, Xu F, Shen ZX, Zhu YM, Li JM, Tang W, Zhao WL, Wu W, Sun HP, Chen QS, Chen B, Zhou GB, Zelent A, Waxman S, Wang ZY, Chen SJ, Chen Z. Long-term efficacy and safety of all-trans retinoic acid/arsenic trioxide-based therapy in newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Mar 3;106(9):3342-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0813280106. Epub 2009 Feb 18. PubMed 19225113 ↗
  • Lo-Coco F, Avvisati G, Vignetti M, Thiede C, Orlando SM, Iacobelli S, Ferrara F, Fazi P, Cicconi L, Di Bona E, Specchia G, Sica S, Divona M, Levis A, Fiedler W, Cerqui E, Breccia M, Fioritoni G, Salih HR, Cazzola M, Melillo L, Carella AM, Brandts CH, Morra E, von Lilienfeld-Toal M, Hertenstein B, Wattad M, Lubbert M, Hanel M, Schmitz N, Link H, Kropp MG, Rambaldi A, La Nasa G, Luppi M, Ciceri F, Finizio O, Venditti A, Fabbiano F, Dohner K, Sauer M, Ganser A, Amadori S, Mandelli F, Dohner H, Ehninger G, Schlenk RF, Platzbecker U; Gruppo Italiano Malattie Ematologiche dell'Adulto; German-Austrian Acute Myeloid Leukemia Study Group; Study Alliance Leukemia. Retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide for acute promyelocytic leukemia. N Engl J Med. 2013 Jul 11;369(2):111-21. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1300874. PubMed 23841729 ↗
  • Abaza Y, Kantarjian H, Garcia-Manero G, Estey E, Borthakur G, Jabbour E, Faderl S, O'Brien S, Wierda W, Pierce S, Brandt M, McCue D, Luthra R, Patel K, Kornblau S, Kadia T, Daver N, DiNardo C, Jain N, Verstovsek S, Ferrajoli A, Andreeff M, Konopleva M, Estrov Z, Foudray M, McCue D, Cortes J, Ravandi F. Long-term outcome of acute promyelocytic leukemia treated with all-trans-retinoic acid, arsenic trioxide, and gemtuzumab. Blood. 2017 Mar 9;129(10):1275-1283. doi: 10.1182/blood-2016-09-736686. Epub 2016 Dec 21. PubMed 28003274 ↗
  • Iland HJ, Bradstock K, Supple SG, Catalano A, Collins M, Hertzberg M, Browett P, Grigg A, Firkin F, Hugman A, Reynolds J, Di Iulio J, Tiley C, Taylor K, Filshie R, Seldon M, Taper J, Szer J, Moore J, Bashford J, Seymour JF; Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group. All-trans-retinoic acid, idarubicin, and IV arsenic trioxide as initial therapy in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APML4). Blood. 2012 Aug 23;120(8):1570-80; quiz 1752. doi: 10.1182/blood-2012-02-410746. Epub 2012 Jun 19. PubMed 22715121 ↗
  • Platzbecker U, Avvisati G, Cicconi L, Thiede C, Paoloni F, Vignetti M, Ferrara F, Divona M, Albano F, Efficace F, Fazi P, Sborgia M, Di Bona E, Breccia M, Borlenghi E, Cairoli R, Rambaldi A, Melillo L, La Nasa G, Fiedler W, Brossart P, Hertenstein B, Salih HR, Wattad M, Lubbert M, Brandts CH, Hanel M, Rollig C, Schmitz N, Link H, Frairia C, Pogliani EM, Fozza C, D'Arco AM, Di Renzo N, Cortelezzi A, Fabbiano F, Dohner K, Ganser A, Dohner H, Amadori S, Mandelli F, Ehninger G, Schlenk RF, Lo-Coco F. Improved Outcomes With Retinoic Acid and Arsenic Trioxide Compared With Retinoic Acid and Chemotherapy in Non-High-Risk Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: Final Results of the Randomized Italian-German APL0406 Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2017 Feb 20;35(6):605-612. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2016.67.1982. Epub 2016 Oct 31. PubMed 27400939 ↗
  • Powell BL, Moser B, Stock W, Gallagher RE, Willman CL, Stone RM, Rowe JM, Coutre S, Feusner JH, Gregory J, Couban S, Appelbaum FR, Tallman MS, Larson RA. Arsenic trioxide improves event-free and overall survival for adults with acute promyelocytic leukemia: North American Leukemia Intergroup Study C9710. Blood. 2010 Nov 11;116(19):3751-7. doi: 10.1182/blood-2010-02-269621. Epub 2010 Aug 12. PubMed 20705755 ↗
  • Gill H, Kumana CR, Yim R, Hwang YY, Chan TSY, Yip SF, Lee HKK, Mak V, Lau JSM, Chan CC, Kho B, Wong RSM, Li W, Lin SY, Lau CK, Ip HW, Leung RYY, Lam CCK, Kwong YL. Oral arsenic trioxide incorporation into frontline treatment with all-trans retinoic acid and chemotherapy in newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia: A 5-year prospective study. Cancer. 2019 Sep 1;125(17):3001-3012. doi: 10.1002/cncr.32180. Epub 2019 May 15. PubMed 31090936 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Oct 4, 2022, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04251754
Lead sponsor
The University of Hong Kong
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Feb 5, 2020
Start date
Feb 2, 2020
Primary completion
Jan 2025 (estimated)
Completion
Jun 2025 (estimated)
Last update
Oct 4, 2022

Study contacts

Harinder Singh Harry Gill, MD
Contact
gillhsh@hku.hk
+852 22554542
Harinder Gill, MD
principal investigator · The University of Hong Kong

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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