Although cIAP‐1/2 were shown to be targets of SM in multiple tumor settings, affecting NF‐κB signaling and SM‐mediated apoptosis (Bai et al, 2009; Gyrd‐Hansen & Meier, 2010; Berger et al, 2011; Richmond et al, 2016; Silke & Vince, 2017) we show here that SM‐mediated sensitization of r/r‐ALL for cytostatic drugs was independent of NF‐κB, RIPK1 and TNFα. Here, BIRC2 is linked to acute lymphoblastic leukemia.