KIT and leukemia: Apoptosis in both c-kit+ and c-kit− myeloid populations was compared between Atg5FL and Atg5KO AML cells and was observed to be enhanced in c-kit− myeloid cells, which are differentiated cells that lack leukemia-initiating potential (Figure 4h).2 This data collectively suggest that autophagy-deficient AML cells demonstrate enhanced apoptosis in differentiated malignant leukemia cells originating from LSCs in vitro.