In this study we explored the effects of bryostatin-5 on the clonogenic response of normal bone marrow mononuclear (BM) cells and HL60 myeloid leukemia cells. Leukemic HL60 colony formation was strongly inhibited by bryostatin-5 depending on dose and schedule. An inhibitory effect on HL60 colony formation was readily demonstrated after 1 h of exposure, reaching a maximal inhibitory effect at 96 h. Normal BM cells differed in their clonogenic response: short-term exposure to bryostatin-5 resulted in increased clonogenicity while longstanding exposure to bryostatin-5 permitted the survival of a substantial fraction of committed progenitors. This differential modulation of normal and leukemic myeloid clonogenicity by bryostatin-5 suggests a possible role for bryostatin-5 in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia.