cytarabine + mitoxantrone + daunorubicin + thioguanine

This combination chemotherapy regimen, frequently referred to as TAD-HAM, is a sequential induction therapy used for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). It was developed and extensively evaluated by the German AML Cooperative Group (AMLCG), with Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Hiddemann serving as a primary investigator. The regimen consists of two sequential courses: TAD (thioguanine, cytarabine, and daunorubicin) followed by HAM (high-dose cytarabine and mitoxantrone). The components work synergistically to eliminate leukemic blasts; cytarabine and thioguanine are antimetabolites that interfere with DNA synthesis and repair by inhibiting DNA polymerase and incorporating into nucleic acids, while daunorubicin and mitoxantrone are DNA-intercalating agents that inhibit topoisomerase II, leading to double-strand breaks and apoptosis.

Other names

Ara-C + Mitoxantrone + Daunorubicin + ThioguanineStandard Double Induction