A number of emerging prognostic markers for CLL are now identified, including mutations in Notch receptor 1 (NOTCH1), splicing factor 3B subunit 1 (SF3B1), baculoviral IAP repeat-containing 3 (BIRC3) and ATM serine/threonine kinase (ATM) [13,14,15]. Here, SF3B1 is linked to B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.