Background: The authors assessed the effectiveness of 7-3 TAD or 5-2 TAD
chemotherapy in 50 adults with previously untreated acute myelogenous leukemia(AML)
at Kyung Hee University Hospital from August 1985 through April 1992.
Methods : Fifty adults with previously untreated AML were treated with 7-3 TAD or
5-2 TAD regimen composed of 6-thioguanine, cytarabine and doxorubicin for induction
chemotherapy and followed by two courses of consolidation with 5-2 TAD regimen.
Results : Thirty-seven out of 50(74%) cases achieved complete remission and median
duration of remission in 37 patients achieved complete remission was 122 weeks(2∼
418＋weeks), and median duration of survival in all 50 patients was 87
week(1∼437＋weeks). The 2-years disease-free survival rate was 51.8%
and 5-years disease-free survival rate was 44.2% in 37 patients achieved complete
remission. Actuarial 2-years survival rate was 45.5% and 5-years survival rate in all 50
patients was 43.8%. There was statistically significant difference in survival duration
between more than 40 years of age and lesser than 40. Causes of induction failure were
infection in 6 cases, bleeding in 3 cases and drug resistance in 4 cases.
Conclusion: TAD combination chemotherapy was considered as an effective therapy
in adult AML.

Keywords: Acute myelogenous leukemia, TAD chemotherapy, Remission rate, Survival rate