This trial is a single-center, non-blind, two-arm randomized prospective controlled trial to compare the effectiveness of two induction chemotherapy regimens (high-dose cytarabine plus daunorubicin [HDAC] vs. cytarabine plus high-dose daunorubicin [AD]) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The primary hypothesis of the study is that AD is superior to HDAC in terms of event-free survival (EFS, time from registration to induction failure, relapse, or death).

• Induction chemotherapy

  • Arm I [HDAC]: cytarabine 3.0 g/m2 q12hr 3-hour iv infusion on days 1, 3, 5 plus daunorubicin 45 mg/m2/day continuous iv infusion for 3 days (D1-3).
  • Arm II [AD]: cytarabine 200 mg/m2/day continuous iv infusion for 7 days (D1-7) plus daunorubicin 90 mg/m2/day continuous iv infusion for 3 days (D1-3).

• Interim bone marrow examination Interim bone marrow aspiration and biopsy will be done between 14 and 21 days after start of induction chemotherapy. If bone marrow has blasts < 10%, no additional chemotherapy will be given until the recovery of blood counts (absolute neutrophil counts rise over 1,000/μL and platelet counts over 100,000/μL) or post-induction day 35, when bone marrow examination will be repeated to evaluate CR. After the marrow examination, re-induction course will be given. If interim bone marrow examination shows persistent leukemia (blasts ≥ 10%), re-induction course could be given. Patients who did not attain CR after the re-induction chemotherapy will be eliminated from the study.

• Re-induction chemotherapy

  • Cytarabine 200 mg/m2/day iv infusion for 5 days (D1-5) plus daunorubicin 45 mg/m2/day iv infusion for 2 days (D1-2) Post-remission consolidation chemotherapy
  • Adverse risk group: up to 3 courses of intermediate-dose cytarabine (1.0 g/m2/day iv for 5 days [D1-5]) plus etoposide (150 mg/m2/day iv for 3 days [D1-3])
  • Favorable/intermediate risk group: up to 3 courses of high-dose cytarabine (3.0 g/m2/day q12 hr iv for 3 days [D1, 3, 5])
  • Autologous or allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) can be performed based on the risk of relapse.
  • The bone marrow examination will be done after the completion of consolidation chemotherapy or before HCT.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Previously-untreated AML (≥ 20% blasts in bone marrow and/or peripheral blood)
• Age of 15 years or older, 60 years or younger
• Adequate performance status (Karnofsky score of 50 or more)
• Adequate hepatic and renal function (AST, ALT, and bilirubin < 2.5 x upper normal limit and creatinine < 2.0 mg/dL & creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min). Elevation of AST or ALT due to hepatic infiltration of leukemic cells will be permitted.
• Adequate cardiac function (left ventricular ejection fraction ≥45% on heart scan or echocardiogram)
• Signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with history of chemotherapy for leukemia or cytarabine and anthracycline treatment for any malignancy. Hydroxyurea for reduction of leukemic cell burden before induction chemotherapy will be permitted.
• Patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia
• Patients with blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia
• Patients with central nervous system (CNS) leukemia or granulocytic sarcoma without bone marrow involvement
• Presence of uncontrolled and/or severe medical condition (infection, bleeding, cardiovascular disease including myocardial infarction within previous 6 months.)
• Nursing women, pregnant women, women of childbearing potential who do not want adequate contraception
• Patients with a diagnosis of prior malignancy unless disease-free for at least 5 years following therapy with curative intent (except curatively treated nonmelanoma skin cancer, in situ carcinoma, or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia)