Acute promyelocytic leukemia

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APML) is a distinct subtype of acute myeloid leukemia.

Pathology

Genetics

It is defined by a balanced translocation between chromosomes 15 and 17 resulting in fusion of the promyelocytic leukemia gene (PML) on chromosome 15 with the retinoic acid receptor alpha gene (RARα) on chromosome 17.

Treatment and prognosis

Complications 

• differentiation syndrome

History and etymology

It was first described as a distinct entity in 1957.​