AML Treatment in Untreated Adult Patients

GIMEMA treatment for adult (15-60 yrs) AML patients included a 3-drug induction cycle with DNR (50 mg/m2 d 1, 3, 5), cytarabine (100 mg/m2 d1-10), etoposide (100 mg/m2 d1-5) followed by an intensive consolidation with cytarabine (500 mg/m2/q12 hrs d1-d6) and the same anthracycline as in induction on d 4-6. Following consolidation, eligible pts (age \<45 or 55 yrs) with a HLA compatible sibling had to be allografted, the others, had to be autografted with autologous peripheral stem cell (PSC) collected during recovery from consolidation. BM and PB samples at diagnosis were centralized according to a national GIMEMA original study planned with the aim to accurately evaluate biological characteristics at diagnosis and to identify genetic alterations with prognostic relevance and to follow up cases monitoring minimal disease during remission. To allow the adequate collection and sending of samples before starting intensive chemotherapy, all patients received a 5-day pretreatment consisting of hydroxiurea (HU) at the dosage of 2 g/m2/day, also effective for "debulkying" of disease.