Incubation with either Shh-K562-Exo or Exo-fraction derived from CML-variant or non-compliant patients (V-CML) (but not Shh-K562-Free, K562-Exo/Free-fractions) could impart similar protection to K562 cells, as seen for Shh-K562 cells (Fig. 6D, E). The gene discussed is SHH; the disease is chronic myelogenous leukemia, BCR-ABL1 positive.