Experimental procedure used to assay the effect of imatinib mesylate on progenitor cells.

The basic experimental approach is outlined here. CD34⁺cells were exposed to imatinib mesylate for 96 hours in serum-free medium containing growth factors. Cells were then plated in assays for primitive progenitors (LTCICs) or committed progenitors (CFCs), or were analyzed in apoptosis or proliferation assays.