An intensive protocol utilizing mitoxantrone, high‐dose cytarabine, vincristine, etoposide and methylprednisolone as induction therapy for chronic myeloid leukemia in blast transformation is described. Fourteen patients were treated, with a remission/second chronic phase achieved in 64%. None of the 3 patients older than 50 yr responded. Complete hematological responses were seen in 9 of the 11 younger patients, 4 of whom also became BCR‐ABL negative by Southern Blot analysis. Four patients went on to allogeneic bone marrow transplant. Median remission durations were 4.5 (1–5) and 8.5 (5–16) months in the non‐transplanted and transplanted cohorts, respectively. Median survival is 1.5 (0.5–3), 9.5 (7–14) and 17 (14–61 +) months in the non‐responding, responding non‐transplanted and transplanted cohorts, respectively. Toxicity, particularly gastrointestinal, was significant. This represents an aggressive protocol that should be reserved for patients who are potential transplant candidates.