Efficacy of All-Trans-Retinoic Acid in High-Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia with Overexpression of EVI1

Abstract

Introduction: EVI1 (MECOM)-positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells have shown in vitro sensitivity to all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) by inducing differentiation, cell death, and decreased leukemic engraftment. Methods: In this pilot study, we investigated the response to ATRA in 13 high-risk AML patients with overexpression of EVI1. Results: Seven of the 13 patients (53.8%) achieved complete remission (CR), and response can be combined with a decreased of the leukemia stem cell pool. Conclusion: These primary results tend to confirm in vitro results and suggest that addition of ATRA might be of benefit in the treatment of patients with EVI1-positive AML.