diagnosis patients must have a clinical diagnosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia (apl) morphology or fab m3 variant confirmed by rt-pcr assay for pml-rarα or chromosome analysis/fish showing t(15:17) translocation. a patient may be entered prior to confirmatory studies, but a patient who is subsequently found to be pml-rarα

prior treatment the patient must not have received any systemic definitive treatment for apl, including cytotoxic chemotherapy, retinoids or arsenic trioxide. prior therapy with corticosteroids, hydroxyurea or leukapheresis will not exclude the patient.

Patients must be of age eighteen (18) or above.

Bilirubin equal or less than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal.

Creatinine equal or less than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal

Pregnancy / nursing status

Patients entered into this study should be non-pregnant and non-nursing and should not plan on becoming pregnant while on treatment. treatment under this protocol would expose an unborn child to significant risks. treatment. women and men of reproductive potential should agree to use an effective means of birth control. there is an extremely high risk of fetal malformation if pregnancy occurs while on treatment in any amount with retinoid drugs even for short periods.

non-apl, aml patients should be excluded from the study.

Other serious illnesses which would limit survival to 1 year.

psychiatric conditions which would prevent compliance with treatment or informed consent.

uncontrolled or severe cardiovascular disease. this would include history of a recent acute myocardial infarction, uncontrolled congestive heart failure, or active angina.

aids or hiv positive patients, although hiv test is not required for accrual.