forty nine patients diagnosed with promyelocytic leukemia were treated with retinoic acid (45-50 mg/m2/day) during induction; afterwards, a consolidation therapy was applied with daunorubicin and arabinosylcitosine, followed by a maintenance therapy with 6 mercaptopurine and methotrexate for 2 years and a half. an evolving clinical, hematological and molecular study was performed. forty three patients achieved complete remission (88%); 9 (47%) of 19 patients and 18(90%) of 20 patients had reached molecular remission after induction and consolidation respectively. global survival rate at 5 years was 65%±8% and event-free survival rate was 63%±7%. disease-free survival rate was 71%± 7% in the same period
