Daunorubicin Hydrochloride, Cytarabine and Oblimersen Sodium in Treating Patients With Previously Untreated Acute Myeloid Leukemia

This randomized phase III trial is studying daunorubicin, cytarabine, and oblimersen to see how well they work compared to daunorubicin and cytarabine in treating older patients with previously untreated acute myeloid leukemia. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as daunorubicin and cytarabine, work in different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Oblimersen may increase the effectiveness of daunorubicin and cytarabine by making cancer cells more sensitive to the drugs. It is not yet known whether daunorubicin and cytarabine are more effective with or without oblimersen in treating acute myeloid leukemia.