A number of DEG genes identified by this analysis were also reported by Ferreira et al [40], e.g. FOS, JUN, CYBRD1, GZMB, FMOD, CTLA-4, etc. In this study, data from the RNA-seq analysis was additionally also validated by qRT-PCR in a separate cohort of CLL specimens. This evidence concerns the gene GZMB and B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.