The stronger activation of NOTCH1 by rituximab acts in concert with AKT activation, because BCL2 is a target gene of the NICD1 transcription factor and up-regulated BAD transcription has been observed in CLL with overactive NOTCH1 signaling (Fabbri et al., 2017). The gene discussed is NOTCH1; the disease is B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.