Loading
An ancient poison turned cure: with retinoic acid it cures more than 95% of acute promyelocytic leukaemia without conventional chemotherapy.
Developed from traditional Chinese medicine in Harbin (1990s); approved 2000 for relapsed APL and 2018 first line with tretinoin after APL0406 (Lo-Coco, NEJM 2013) showed ATRA-ATO superior to ATRA-chemotherapy in standard-risk APL. Toxicities: differentiation syndrome, QT prolongation, hepatotoxicity. Oral arsenic (Realgar-Indigo naturalis) is used in China.
Ball-and-stick model from PubChem 2D record (no 3D conformer available). PubChem record
Binds PML moiety of PML-RARA, inducing SUMOylation and degradation of the fusion oncoprotein; triggers differentiation and apoptosis of APL blasts.
1.Arsenic trioxide slips into a pocket on its target.
Given by infusion or injection in a clinic or hospital outpatient department, so it is a Part B drug: Medicare pays 80% after the Part B deductible and the patient owes 20% coinsurance, uncapped in Original Medicare unless a Medigap policy applies. Generic; daily infusions in the clinic during consolidation.
Multi-source generic; covered under the medical benefit without prior authorisation in most plans, as part of standard regimens.
Sources: Medicare.gov: Chemotherapy · Medicare.gov: Prescription drugs (outpatient, Part B). Not medical or financial advice; verify with your plan.
Sources: NICE TA526 · SMC advice: arsenic trioxide. Funding decisions are indication-specific and change monthly; verify with NICE and your treating team.
| Region | Year | Indication |
|---|---|---|
| US | 2000 | Relapsed/refractory APL |
| US | 2018 | Newly diagnosed low-risk APL with tretinoin |
| EU | 2002 | APL |
Country and place are remembered in this browser only. A postcode is sent to OpenStreetMap's Nominatim service to find coordinates when you press the button; nothing else leaves your device.
Query for this drug: (TITLE:"Arsenic trioxide" OR ABSTRACT:"Arsenic trioxide" OR TITLE:"Trisenox" OR ABSTRACT:"Trisenox") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Arsenic trioxide, not a curated reading list.
Shares Saijuan Chen, Retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARA), Zhu Chen, APL0406.
Shares APL0406: retinoic acid plus arsenic trioxide without chemotherapy for low- and intermediate-risk acute promyelocytic leukaemia, APL0406, Acute promyelocytic leukaemia, Acute myeloid leukaemia.
Shares Differentiation syndrome, Acute myeloid leukaemia (KEGG map), Cancer stem cell theory and phenotypic plasticity, Epigenetic drugs (HDAC, DNMT, EZH2, IDH, menin, BET).
Shares Differentiation syndrome, Epigenetic drugs (HDAC, DNMT, EZH2, IDH, menin, BET), Acute myeloid leukaemia.
Shares Differentiation syndrome, Epigenetic drugs (HDAC, DNMT, EZH2, IDH, menin, BET), Acute myeloid leukaemia.
Shares Acute promyelocytic leukaemia, Acute myeloid leukaemia.
Shares Acute promyelocytic leukaemia, Acute myeloid leukaemia.
Shares Differentiation syndrome, Epigenetic drugs (HDAC, DNMT, EZH2, IDH, menin, BET), Acute myeloid leukaemia.