Eltrombopag does not enhance growth of malignant BM cells from patients with MDS/AML. (A) Cumulative cell numbers after 12-day culture in semisolid methylcellulose medium (n = 5 normal controls; n = 10 MDS/AML). BM-MNC were seeded in methylcellulose containing hrIL-3, hrSCF, hrIL-6, insulin, and transferrin. Cultures were supplemented with either 0, 0.1, 1, 3, 10, or 30 μg/mL Eltrombopag, or 100 ng/mL hrTPO. (B) BrdU incorporation in MDS/AML BM-MNC in the presence of either 0, 3, or 10 μg/mL Eltrombopag. BM-MNC of MDS/AML patients were kept in liquid cultures containing BSA, insulin, and transferrin, and cultures were supplemented with hrIL-3, hrIL-6, hrSCF, and hrFLT3L. Cells were incubated with the different concentrations of Eltrombopag for 1, 2, 6, or 12 days. BrdU incorporation was measured by FACS analysis. Averages and SDs (error bars) are indicated (n = 6). (C) Apoptotic activity upon exposure to increasing concentrations of Eltrombopag. BM-MNC of MDS/AML patients were kept in liquid cultures containing BSA, insulin, and transferrin, supplemented with hrIL-3, hrIL-6, hrSCF, and hrFLT3L. Cells were incubated with either 0, 0.1, 1, 3, 10, or 30 μg/mL Eltrombopag for 24 and 72 hours and analyzed for apoptotic cells (Annexin V⁺) by FACS. Averages and error bars (SD) are shown (n = 6).