Inclusion Criteria:

          -  Age >= 1 years and < 61 years

          -  Morphologic diagnosis of APL

          -  PS <= 3

          -  Presence in leukemic cells at diagnosis of t(15;17), and/or PML/RARa rearrangement by
             RT-PCR. T

          -  The presence of additional cytogenetic lesions is not considered an exclusion
             criterion

          -  Serum creatinine <=2.5 mg/dL

          -  Serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, or GOT/ASAT <= 3 times the upper normal limit

          -  Negative pregnancy test

          -  Written informed consent

        Exclusion Criteria:

          -  Age >= 61 years

          -  Prior antileukemic chemotherapy for APL

          -  Absence of PML-RARa rearrangement after successful RNA extraction and amplification of
             control gene

          -  Prior antileikemic chemotherapy for APL

          -  Presence of a concomitant malignant neoplasm, except basal cell carcinoma Concurrent
             treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy or radiotherapy

          -  Oteher progressive malignant disease. However, secondary acute promyelocytic leukemia
             following "cured" Hodgkin's disease or otehr cured malignancies may be included, as
             well as secondary leukemias following other exposure to alkylating agents or radiation
             for other reasons