The tetrapeptide acetyl-N-Ser-Asp-Lys-Pro (AcSDKP) inhibits the entry into DNA synthesis of murine spleen colony-forming units (CFU-S) and protects these cells during chemotherapy. This synthetic peptide also inhibits the growth of normal human marrow progenitors granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units (CFU-GM) and erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E) and decreases their percentage in DNA synthesis at nanomolar concentration. In view of its clinical application as a marrow protector, we have investigated its effects on malignant cells. Studies were carried out on HL-60 cells and on fresh leukemic cells from patients with either chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Results showed that AcSDKP, whatever the doses used, did not modify the proliferation of both HL-60 cells and AML cells even when enhanced by stimulating factors such as interleukin 3 or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). In addition, no change in the number and the percentage in S-phase of both HL-60 clonogenic cells and CML progenitors was observed. Our data clearly demonstrate that the tetrapeptide AcSDKP was ineffective on leukemic cells and therefore by acting selectively on normal progenitors represents a potent therapeutical agent for the protection of normal bone marrow progenitors during chemotherapy.