Preclinical observations that killing of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells was dexamethasone (DEX) were enhanced by concomitant inhibition of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase and janus kinases (JAKs) motivated a phase II trial to determine if clinical responses to ibrutinib could be deepened by DEX and the JAK inhibitor ruxolitinib. Here, BTK is linked to B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.