The present invention provides improved methods, kits, and pharmaceutical compositions for increasing hematopoietic cell survival and/or reducing or preventing the side effects of chemotherapy, and mobilizing hematopoietic progenitor cells from bone marrow into peripheral blood following chemotherapy, comprising administering an effective amount angiotensinogen, angiotensin I (AI), AI analogues, AI fragments and analogues thereof, angiotensin II (AII) AII analogues, AII fragments or analogues thereof or AII AT.sub.2 type 2 receptor agonists to a patient in need of chemotherapy.