The main objectives were: (a) to determine whether the IBTKα expression was modulated in the clinical course of disease and after first therapy; (b) to compare IBTKα to prognostic markers of CLL, including CD38, LPL and ZAP70 genes; (c) to unveil the potential role of IBTKα in CLL progression. Here, LPL is linked to B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.