Patients were randomized at baseline (first R1 randomization) to receive either daunorubicin (DNR) or idarubicin (IDA) as an anthracycline for induction and post-remission therapy. This first randomization was stratified on centers and AML type (de novo versus post-MDS AML). Induction chemotherapy consisted of a 4+7 course with either DNR at a daily dosage of 45 mg/m2 or IDA at a daily dosage of 9 mg/m2 for four days (day 1 to day 4) in combination with 200 mg/m2 cytarabine per day as a continuous IV infusion for seven days (day 1 to 7). Lenograstim granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was administered in all patients from day 9 until myeloid recovery (3 consecutive days with PMN more than 1.0 G/L) by IV infusion and at a daily dosage of 263 microg/day for a maximum of 28 days. A blood and marrow aspiration smear examination was performed at day 21. A salvage course of chemotherapy may be offered to patients with persistent leukemia (defined below), but only if they did not present acquired contra-indication to further intensive chemotherapy (baseline criteria). Salvage consisted of six 1-hour IV bolus of intermediate-dose cytarabine (500 mg/m2/12h day 1 to 3) combined to mitoxantrone (MTZ) at a daily dosage of 12 mg/m2 for two days (day 3 and 4). G-CSF administration was stopped before salvage onset and restarted from day 5 of the salvage course until myeloid recovery for a maximum of 28 days.