Intensive chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for elderly patients with acute myelogenous leukemia

One-hundred and seven patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) ranging in age from 15 to 82 yr who were previously untreated, received a 70 day high-dose remission induction regimen consisting of daunorubicin, cytarabine, and thioguanine (TAD). Identical complete remission rates of 65% were observed for 33 patients 60 yr of age and older and for 74 patients age 15–59 yr. Median remission duration and survival were 14 mo and 22 mo for patients 60 yr and older, and 16 mo and 22 mo for patients 15–59 yr. These differences are not significant. These data indicate that older patients respond to intensive chemotherapy in a similar manner to younger patients with this disease.