Thirteen patients with AML in first relapse were treated with high dose combination chemotherapy followed by cryopreserved autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). The first four patients received the COATA-Roma regimen, consisting of CTX, VCR, CA, 6-TG and ADM; nine additional patients received the BAVC regimen consisting of BCNU, AMSA, VP-16 and CA. A median of 1.6 X 10(8) fractionated nucleated bone marrow cells/kg body weight were reinfused. The median of GM-CFU-C recovered was 4.7 X 10(4)/kg. Out of 13 patients, 10 (76.9%) achieved CR, 3 had profound aplasia and died from hemorrhagic or infectious complications. Of the 10 patients who achieved CR, 1 died after 1 week from heart failure, 5 relapsed respectively 17, 20, 21, 21, 42, weeks after ABMT, 4 are still in CR after 2+, 14+, 17+, and 120+, weeks. Of the 9 patients treated with BAVC regimen, 8(88.8%) achieved CR. Four patients relapsed after a median of 19.7 weeks and 4 are still in complete remission. Of interest is the fact that the second complete remission of one patient is longer than the first one, despite the fact that marrow was not purified by any in vitro treatment. In conclusion we can say that BAVC regimen is highly effective in obtaining second complete remission in patients with AML and prolonged disease free survival can be achieved at least in a small number of cases.