BIRC3 and MYD88 gene mutations have been detected in up to 4% of CLL cases14,37; while gene mutations in the former are associated with other adverse prognostic factors that predict chemo-refractoriness and poorer prognosis37, the MYD88 gene mutations, mostly L265P, identify CLL patients with a more favorable outcome14. The gene discussed is BIRC3; the disease is B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.