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An Evidence-based Perspective of Arsenic Trioxide (As2O3) for Cancer Patients

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Evidence-based Anticancer Materia Medica

Abstract

The ancient drug, arsenic, has remarkable efficacy in the treatment of relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and it is highly likely that a regimen for treatment of APL that does not require any traditional chemotherapy drugs will be developed in the future. Arsenic trioxide (white arsenic or As2O3) was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for being used in the treatment of relapsed/refractory APL in 2000. This success has led to exploration of its use in other malignancies. As2O3 interacts with multiple molecular targets and signaling pathways. The resultant effect depends on factors, including cell type, and the dose and duration of As2O3 exposure. Understanding the molecular and biological basis of these effects will promote the rational and optimal application of As2O3 in diseases other than APL. A series of clinical trials with As2O3 has confirmed its benefit in the therapy of APL, although its role in the treatment of other malignancies remains to be determined. Careful attention to the clinical management of patients on As2O3 therapy can significantly lessen the risk of major side effects. The administration of As2O3 can be done safely if careful attention to electrolyte abnormalities and electrocardiographic monitoring is undertaken. Here we provide an overview of the mechanism of action of arsenic and summarize its development in the treatment of APL and other malignant disorders.

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  1. Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, No 23 Youzheng Street, 150001, Harbin, Heilongjiang, People’s Republic of China

    Hongchi Jiang, Lianxin Liu, Tongsen Zheng & Dalong Yin

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Correspondence to Hongchi Jiang .

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  1. Dept. Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gascoigne Road 30, Kowloon, Hong Kong/PR China

    William C.S. Cho

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Jiang, H., Liu, L., Zheng, T., Yin, D. (2011). An Evidence-based Perspective of Arsenic Trioxide (As2O3) for Cancer Patients. In: Cho, W. (eds) Evidence-based Anticancer Materia Medica. Evidence-based Anticancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0526-5_2

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