Used Right, IV Arsenic Is Safe And Effective

Intravenous arsenic trioxide was shown to be a safe and effective treatment for relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), achieving a complete remission rate of 87% in a study involving 52 patients. The treatment consisted of induction and consolidation phases, with manageable side effects. The study reported a two-year overall survival rate of 56% and a relapse-free survival rate of 49%. Despite initial concerns due to arsenic's toxic reputation, the drug's potential extended to other hematologic cancers, with promising results in myeloma, lymphoma, and leukemias. Additionally, combining arsenic trioxide with ascorbic acid showed potential in overcoming drug resistance in multiple myeloma cells.