Twenty one adult patients with previously untreated acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) were treated with sequential mitoxantrone and standard dose cytosine arabinoside remission induction therapy. The median age was 33 years (range 17-56 years). Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 80% (17/21 cases) and 76% (16/21 cases) achieved CR after one course of induction therapy. The median duration of disease free survival was 9 months with an actuarial disease free survival of 22% at 43 months. The non-hematological toxicity was acceptable. We conclude that sequential mitoxantrone and cytosine arabinoside combination therapy is an effective antileukemic regimen which produces high CR rates in previously untreated adult patients with AML.