MBL: low vs. high count and CLL progression

Alberto Orfao, MD, PhD, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain, shares some insights into monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), highlighting some important points to consider when investigating low-count and high-count MBL. First, Dr Orfao explains the importance of identifying low-count MBL patients with a high-risk of progression and the role that age plays in disease. Following this, Dr Orfao discusses the need to better understand why these clones appear in patients, and the potential role of the B-cell receptor in the development of MBL. To conclude, Dr Orfao explains the need to further investigate the consequences of having small clones of B-cells and the mechanisms involved in disease progression to CLL. This interview took place during the 2nd ESH Translational Research Conference on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (ESH CLL), 2022.