Given that levels of some target molecules (BCL-XL, survivin, and factors in the ER stress-associated pathway) increase during the differentiation process of CLL B-cells, we speculate that bryostatin might be usefully combined with the corresponding inhibitors of these molecules (ABT-737 [3], YM155 [55] and B-I09 [59]). This evidence concerns the gene BIRC5 and B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.