The Significance of B-cell Receptor Stereotypy in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Biological and Clinical Implications

Abstract

The finding that (quasi)identical, stereotyped B-cell receptor (BcR) immunoglobulins IGs) are expressed in a significant fraction of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) highlighted the importance of antigen selection in disease pathogenesis. Subsets of patients sharing the same stereotyped BcR IG display consistent biological features and, at least for certain subsets, clinical presentation and outcome, including the response to particular treatment. On these grounds, BcR IG stereotypy emerges as a useful tool for dissecting the pronounced heterogeneity of CLL toward refining risk stratification and therapeutic management aligned with the principles of precision medicine.

Keywords: B-cell receptor; Chronic lymphocytic leukemia; IGHV genes; Immunogenetics; Immunoglobulin; Somatic hypermutation; Stereotypy.