A retrospective analysis of two ECOG adult AML trials conducted from 1976 to 1983 was carried out focusing on long term disease-free survival. This report summarizes the data on 545 patients with a minimum follow up of 7 1/2 years. The complete remission rate was 57% with an estimated cure rate of 12%. Of several prognostic variables examined only FAB type M3 (promyelocytic leukemia) was statistically significant (estimated cure rate of 33% vs 9% for other FAB subtypes).