[Induction and intensive combined therapy of acute myeloid leukemia in adults]

In a prospective multicenter study the efficacy and toxicity of an induction therapy with daunorubicin, cytosine-arabinoside and VP 16-213, followed by an intensified consolidation with high-dose cytosine-arabinoside and daunorubicin, is evaluated in adult patients with acute myelogenous leukemia. The upper age limit for inclusion in the study was 50 years. Within the first two years of this study 91 patients were enrolled. In 84 patients who have finished the remission induction therapy the rate of complete remissions is 67%. The median survival time of all patients is 22 months and the probability of survival is 46% after 24 months. So far 34 patients in complete remission have been given one or two courses of the intensified consolidation therapy with high-dose cytosine-arabinoside and daunorubicin. The probability of relapse-free survival in these patients is 46% after 22 months and the median remission duration is 20 months.