Inhibition of flavopiridol-induced autophagy in CLL cells. (A) Viability of CLL cells (n = 15) treated with flavopiridol and CQ. Live cells are shown by percent of annexin-negative and PI-negative cells at 24 hours. Cells were incubated with flavopiridol for 4 hours; CQ was left on cells for 24 hours continuously. Viability decreased more with flavopiridol plus CQ versus flavopiridol alone (P = .001). (B) Viability in CLL samples (n = 10) untransfected or transfected with scrambled or combination ATG5/7 siRNA and then treated with flavopiridol (2μM) for 4 hours. Treatments began 24 hours after transfection. Percent of cells negative for annexin V and PI was measured 24 hours from flavopiridol treatment (48 hours after transfection). In flavopiridol-treated cells, viability was significantly lower in the presence of combination ATG5/7 siRNA versus the scrambled control (P = .004).