The present invention relates to a method of treating a cancerous condition mediated by the protein MDS1-EVI1 (ME). The method includes administering to a patient an amount of an inhibitor of ME protein activity that is effective to cause cell death of cancer cells that are ME-dependent, thereby treating the cancerous condition. The present invention further relates to a method of causing cell death of a cancer cell that requires MDS1-EVI1 (ME) for survival. The method includes introducing an inhibitor of ME activity into a cancer cell that requires ME for survival, whereby said introducing is effective to cause cancer cell death. Novel agents that can inhibit the activity of ME in vitro or in vivo are also disclosed.
