In the B-ALL cells from sample 1 and sample 6, knockdown of PEBP4 using siRNA increased the cell death percentage from 38.2% to 57.2% and 55.0% to 74.9%, respectively, when compared to scrabble siRNA, indicating that hPEBP4 knockdown might act synergistically with rituximab in the treatment of B-cell malignancies. The gene discussed is PEBP4; the disease is acute lymphoblastic leukemia.