- Morphological diagnosis of AML other then acute promyelocytic leukemia (FAB M3) according to WHO diagnostic criteria; diagnosis of AML must be based on bone marrow or peripheral blood studies obtained within 28 days prior to study registration or start of hydroxyurea (for patients presenting with WBC >= 10,000/uL), and no potentially anti-leukemic therapy (with the exception of hydroxyurea) must have been given between AML diagnosis and study registration; a bone marrow biopsy is not routinely required but should be obtained if the aspirate is dilute, hypocellular, or inaspirable; outside bone marrows performed within the stipulated time period are acceptable as long as the slides are reviewed at a study institution