Cancers & treatments·Regimen libraryInduction

ADE (cytarabine, daunorubicin, etoposide)

Checked 2026-09-09

Induction for younger adults with acute myeloid leukaemia in the UK MRC and NCRI trials; an alternative to 7+3

Also called ADE, ADE 10+3+5.

One cycle

every 28 days × 2 · about 8 weeks in total

28-day cycle × 2 (course 1 as 10+3+5, course 2 as 8+3+5) (about 8 weeks)Intravenous

Components

Drug	Dose	Route	Days
Cytarabine Pyrimidine nucleoside analogue (antimetabolite)	100 mg/m² every 12 hours	IV	D1-10
Daunorubicin Anthracycline (topoisomerase II inhibitor)	50 mg/m²	IV	D1, 3, 5
Etoposide Topoisomerase II inhibitor (podophyllotoxin derivative)	100 mg/m²	IV	D1-5

Cycles

2 (course 1 as 10+3+5, course 2 as 8+3+5)

28-day cycle

Emetogenicity

Moderate (30-90%)

G-CSF

Not routine

Notes

AML15 found no benefit from adding etoposide to daunorubicin and cytarabine (DA) in remission or survival, so DA or FLAG-Ida are now more often used.
Gemtuzumab ozogamicin is added on day 1 for favourable and intermediate risk.

Used in

Acute myeloid leukaemia

Products

CytarabineDaunorubicinEtoposide

Source

Burnett (MRC AML15), JCO 2013: ADE versus DA and FLAG-Ida

Reference doses for a typical adult from the cited protocol or label. Doses are adjusted for renal and hepatic function, age, performance status and prior toxicity, and institutional protocols vary. Verify against the current label and your local protocol before treating. Not medical advice.

Other regimens for these cancers

7+3 (cytarabine + anthracycline) ± midostaurin

Fit adults with newly diagnosed AML; midostaurin for FLT3-mutated disease (quizartinib for FLT3-ITD)

every 28 days × 1-2

Venetoclax + azacitidine

Newly diagnosed AML unfit for intensive chemotherapy

every 28 days

ATRA + arsenic trioxide

Low or intermediate-risk acute promyelocytic leukaemia (WBC 10 × 10⁹/L or less)

every 28 days

All regimens CAF (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, fluorouracil) →