The 3-year OS and the 3-year DFS of the low and intermediate-risk group were better (<i>P</i>=0.019 and <i>P</i>=0.017, respectively).<h4>Conclusions</h4>ATRA combined with arsenic and anthracycline had significant impact on outcomes in APL with <i>PML-RARα</i> short isoform. Here, PML is linked to acute promyelocytic leukemia.