Dr. Kay on Genetic Investigations in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

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.