Dr. Kay on Genetic Investigations in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

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07/08/23

Neil E. Kay, MD, professor of medicine, Mayo Clinic, discusses the genetic investigations being conducted in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and more specifically, monoclonal b-cell lymphocytosis (MBL), which resembles CLL but does not meet the same criteria.

Large cohorts of patients with familial CLL, who have at least one first-degree blood relative with CLL, are currently being studied in this space because their families have increased incidence of MBL.

Researchers are looking into heritable germline polymorphisms, a genetic condition that may predispose patients to MBL.

Though it appears that there is still a lot to learn about the causes of MBL, it seems that the disorder is largely genetically determined, said Kay.