Similarly, overexpression of Sphk1 inhibits the activation of caspase 3, cytochrome c and SMAC/Diablo release from mitochondria through the modulation of Bim, Bcl‐XL and Mcl1 in chronic myeloid leukaemia cells [29]. Here, MCL1 is linked to chronic myelogenous leukemia, BCR-ABL1 positive.