The present invention provides the use of all-trans retinoic acid for the production of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia, which use is characterized in that the patients are selected from the group of non-M3 acute myeloid leukemia patients according to a physiologic concentration, e.g. a level of MN1 below a certain critical level analysed in total blood cells, preferably analysed in bone marrow cells. The critical level of MN1 can be determined according to known methods, e.g. by specific determination of the presence of MN1, e.g. using specific anti-MN1 antibody, e.g. in an ELISA or in another immuno specific assay. Preferably, the level of MN1 is determined at its transcription level, e.g. as the concentration of mRNA encoding MN1.