Transcriptional levels of embryonic genes in PBMCs of patients with CLL under different therapeutic regimens. (A) The expression levels of OCT4, KLF4, NANOG, and CD133 in PBMCs from patients with CLL compared with HDs were assessed by real-time PCR. Data are represented as box plots (blue box, HDs; gray box, patients with CLL). The nonparametric Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the 2 groups. ∗P ≤ .050; ∗∗P ≤ .010. (B) The expression of OCT4, KLF4, NANOG, and CD133 in PBMCs of patients with CLL upon different treatment regimens was assessed by real-time PCR. Data are represented as box plots (blue box, HDs; dark gray box, untreated patients; gray box, patients receiving chemotherapy; light gray box, patients receiving ibrutinib). The nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare groups. ∗P ≤ .050; ∗∗P ≤ .010. Red asterisks refer to comparison between patients and HDs. Black asterisks refer to comparison between groups of patients who received a different treatment regimen.