Efficacy of 5-Aza for Post-Remission Therapy of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in Elderly Patients

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 61 years or more
2. Newly diagnosed AML with \> 30% myeloid marrow blasts, either "de novo" or evolving from a MDS not previously treated with chemotherapeutic agents.
3. Absence of central nervous system involvement
4. No contraindications for intensive chemotherapy, defined as:

   1. prior congestive heart failure requiring treatment and/or left ventricular systolic ejection fraction below the normal range;
   2. a creatinine or bilirubin level more than twice the upper limit of normal, except if AML-related;
   3. a Performance Status (PS) score of \> 2;
   4. uncontrolled severe infection.
5. Informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Age ≤ 60 years
2. Newly diagnosed AML with \< 30% myeloid marrow blasts
3. Previously treated AML
4. Central nervous system involvement
5. Prior congestive heart failure requiring treatment and/or left ventricular systolic ejection fraction below the normal range;
6. A creatinine or bilirubin level more than twice the upper limit of normal, except if AML-related;
7. A PS score of \> 2;
8. Uncontrolled severe infection.