Initial experiments in AML cell lines indicated that stem cell factor (SCF)-modulated PI3K pathway activity (as measured by levels of SCF-induced p-AKT and p-S6) was elevated in the GO-resistant GDM-1 but not the GO-sensitive U937 cells (p-AKT: mean log2-fold increase of 1.98 in GDM-1 cells vs. −0.11 in U937 cells; for p-S6: mean log2-fold increase of 1.00 for GDM-1 cells vs. −0.03 for U937 cells). This evidence concerns the gene KITLG and acute myeloid leukemia.