Furthermore, by highlighting the clinical relevance of CLL cell interactions with their microenvironment in relation to PFS, our research may pave the way for the investigation of associations between other amenable factors (such as CD40 or IL4) and PFS [41, 42]; this kind of research could help clinicians to optimise the tools and timing (before, during or after FCR completion), to exploit the complex interactions between CLL and normal immune cells. The gene discussed is CD40; the disease is B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.