Synergy: karyotypes and mutations in CLL

In this issue of Blood, Herling et al present the first large, prospective clinical trial that integrates cytogenetic, next-generation sequencing (NGS), clinical, and laboratory data into a prognostic analysis. They demonstrate that karyotypic complexity is an independent prognostic factor of survival in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). They are also the first to show that mutations in KRAS or POT1 affect treatment response and survival after chemoimmunotherapy. Their results provide a strong rationale for incorporating the results of karyotypic and NGS analyses in clinical trial design and in routine practice.