Our results indicate that AML, characterized either by elevated HoxA9 expression, MLL-rearrangements or elevated Bcl-2 expression, may be treated with drugs such as ABT-737 or the more specific Bcl-2 antagonist, ABT-199, that target anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members. Here, HOXA9 is linked to acute myeloid leukemia.