Zhang L, et al. - Researchers sought to determine the efficacy and safety of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO) in paediatric acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) patients (≤14 years of age). Whether cytarabine (Ara-C) could be omitted in ATO and ATRA- based trials in children was also investigated. All patients received ATRA plus ATO for induction followed by one course of idarubicin (IDA) and ATO (28 days), with subsequent receipt of two courses of daunorubicin (DNR, no- Ara-C group) or DNR + Ara-C (Ara-C group). For 1.5 years, maintenance with oral ATRA, 6-mercaptopurine, and methotrexate was provided. ATO and ATRA demonstrated safety and efficacy in this patient populace and no differences were found in event-free survival, disease-free survival and overall survival between the Ara-C and no-Ara-c groups. Ara-C could be omitted when ATO was used for two courses.