Arsenic As a Therapy in Cancer: A Short Review

Abstract

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow in which the bone marrow produces immature white blood cells, called myeloblasts. AML (acute myeloid leukemia) prevents these myeloblasts from developing into mature, healthy blood cells, as a result they accumulate and crowd out other healthy cells, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Sometimes acute myeloid leukemia(AML) can also spread to other organs, such as the brain, spinal cord, liver, or spleen. Without prompt treatment, AML can be life-threatening. There has been 2–3 cases per 100,000 people annually. Compared to women, men are more likely to experience it. acute myeloid leukemia(AML) makes up roughly 3% of all malignancies, with a median age of 32 years, according to the population-based Cancer Registry for Delhi. Among the various drugs for treatment of leukemia arsenic has been one of the most effective in treating it. Arsenic has been known as poison over 4000years.Long-term exposure to as has led to various adverse effects on health, but after the discovery of chemo therapeutic properties of As the understanding has been changed from poison to drug. Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is the most active antileukemia agent in treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia(APL). Arsenic trioxide (ATO) cause degradation of PML RAR alpha promoting differentiation. Not only this but also arsenic induces apoptosis via mitochondrial caspase or formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and deleting GSH content of cell.  This article focuses on the therapeutic effect of arsenic on acute myeloid leukemia