The Bcr-Abl fusion gene encodes for the p210(Bcr-Abl) or p185(Bcr-Abl) tyrosine kinase (TK) implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) or acute lymphoblastic leukemia, respectively. Because Bcr-Abl TK is chaperoned by Hsp90 (90 kDa heat-shock protein), we investigated the effects of novobiocin (NB), an Hsp90 C-terminal inhibitor, on the viability of the Bcr-Abl-positive human leukemia cells HL-60/Bcr-Abl and K562, the expression of Bcr-Abl protein and the interaction between Hsp90 and Bcr-Abl TK. Present studies demonstrate that NB is a potent inhibitor of the growth of Bcr-Abl-positive human leukemia cells. NB induces cytosolic accumulation of cytochrome c and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, triggering apoptosis of HL-60/Bcr-Abl and K562 cells. Treatment of cell lines with NB disrupts Bcr-Abl /Hsp90 and Bcr-Abl /Hsp70 interactions, resulting in a decreased amount of intracellular Bcr-Abl protein levels. Co-treatment with the proteasome inhibitor N-acetyl leucyl-leucyl norlucinal increases NB-mediated accumulation of Bcr-Abl in the detergent-insoluble cellular fraction, which demonstrates that NB promotes proteasomal degradation of Bcr-Abl. Moreover, both imatinib-resistant K562/G01 and primary CML CD34(+) cells are sensitive to NB.