Risk of developing chronic lymphocytic leukemia is influenced by HLA-A class I variation

[First paragraph] While chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by a strong familial risk, the genetic basis of inherited susceptibility to CLL is largely unknown. The increased risk of Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) in relatives of CLL patients suggests a common etiology to B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) through HLA variation(1). Moreover, since B-cell proliferation is part of an adaptive immune response which can be initiated by major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted T-cell activation, a possible influence of HLA on CLL pathogenesis is plausible.