We confirmed that low soluble BLyS are associated with a shorter time to first treatment while in addition we found that sTACI serum concentrations at diagnosis constitute a powerful prognostic marker in chronic lymphocytic leukemia; sTACI is related to disease activity parameters and the stage of CLL and more importantly, sTACI levels above median predicted a shorter time to first treatment and worse outcome for the patients. The gene discussed is TNFSF13B; the disease is B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.