Chromosome 13q deletion, chromosome 12 trisomy and mutations in MYD88 or NOTCH1 are considered early drivers of the disease while the acquisition of chromosome 11q or chromosome 17p deletions as well as mutations in genes frequently mutated in cancer (TP53, ATM, SF3B1 or NRAS) appear during CLL progression (4). Here, SF3B1 is linked to B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.