Why CLL there are often relapses after treatment

(Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch) Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is among the most frequent leukemias affecting adults in Western countries. It usually occurs in older patients, does not cause any symptoms for a long time and is often only discovered by accident. Despite treatment, relapses frequently occur. The immunologists Dr. Kristina Heinig and Dr. Uta Höpken and the hematologist Dr. Armin Rehm have now discovered why this is so.