Promotes cell growth and imatinib resistance, reduces apoptosis and autophagic activation. It accelerates imatinib-resistance in cells by modulating ULK1-induced autophagy via targeting miR-34a-5p, providing a potential target in imatinib resistance of CML. The gene discussed is ULK1; the disease is chronic myelogenous leukemia, BCR-ABL1 positive.