Inclusion Criteria:

- Patients aged 15 to 60 years

- Diagnosis untreated AML (FAB 0 to 2, 4 to 7): more than 20% marrow blasts according
to WHO classification

- Signed informed consent required

Exclusion Criteria:

- AML3 subtype

- Previous diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or myeloproliferative disease;
patients with previous chemotherapy or radiotherapy were eligible if they had no
previous diagnosis of MDS

- Isolated extramedullary disease

- Inadequate performance status (≥ 3), cardiac function (LVEF < 40%, severe arythmia or
unstable coronary disease), renal function (creatininine > 150 µmol/l), liver
functional tests (bilirubin > 35 µmol/l, liver enzymes > 4 times normal values); life
expectancy < 3 months

- Informed consent refusal