Ask the Doctor Question:
What prognostic value is exon 15 braf mutation discovery with no tp53, no 17p, no trisonomy 12, no del 11q, but Unmutated status? Am I in line for a more aggressive disease journey and possible Richter’s Transformation eventually? (I am Watch and Wait with no treatment as yet.)
Answer: There is no prognostic significance of BRAF mutation in patients with CLL. Based on the other information you shared, the main takeaway that could impact your future treatment choices is your unmutated status. We know that patients with an unmutated IgVH immunoglobulin do not benefit from FCR (chemotherapy) based treatments compared to those who are mutated, and if the time ever does come for you to be treated, you should talk with your treating CLL physician regarding novel therapy treatment options instead. You can read more about this in our one-pager which is located within the Test Before Treat portion of our website. Here is another article that you might find helpful.
