Analysis of a large multi-generational family provides insight into the genetics of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

We report the genetic analysis of a large multi-generational family composed of 144 individuals in which 11 members have been diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). The observation of a significant over-representation of monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL) in unaffected family members strongly supports MBL being a surrogate marker of carrier status. A genome-wide linkage scan of the family using high-density 10K single nucleotide polymorphisms provided no significant evidence for a single gene model of disease susceptibility, inviting speculation that susceptibility to CLL has a more complex basis. The absence of a correlation in IGHV usage between affected family members does however argue strongly against exposure to a single super-antigen in disease development.