Chinese Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology 2017;31(6):675-681

doi:10.3867/j.issn.1000-3002.2017.06.026

Anti-leukemia effect and toxicity of arsenic trioxide: a review

Yong ZHANG ; Xianxian WU ; Haiying ZHANG ; Zhimin DU

Keywords

arsenic trioxide; acute promyelocytic leukemia; toxicity

Country

China

Language

Chinese

Abstract

Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) has been considered a poison,which is also known as an old drug and has recently been re-introduced as a new medicine.As2O3 shows potent effect on many types of cancers,especially on a specific types of leukemia-acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).This poison drug As2O3 is effective against all stages of APL and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States for the treatment of APL.However,the clinical use of As2O3 has been limited by its toxicities,especially cardiotoxicity.This review focuses on the therapeutic effect on APL and the side effect during treatment.