Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy with or without valspodar followed by interleukin-2 or no further therapy in treating older patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Grade 4 toxicities during IL-2 therapy, included thrombocytopenia and neutropenia, and grade 3 toxicities included anemia, infection, and malaise/fatigue. Low-dose IL-2 maintenance immunotherapy is not a successful strategy in older AML patients. Clinical trial: NCT00006363. The gene discussed is IL2; the disease is infection.