Prognostic effect of V_H3-21 usage and its association with other prognostic factors. (A) Kaplan-Meier curves showing the overall survival from diagnosis of CLL patients using V_H3-21 versus other V_H gene segments. The median survival values were 54 and 109 months, respectively (P = .012; log-rank test). The sex ratio and age at diagnosis were not significantly different between the 2 groups (P > .99 and P = .96, respectively; Mann-Whitney U test). (B) Dot-plot showing relationship between V_H mutation (y-axis) and CD38 expression (x-axis) among patients using V_H3-21 (•) or other gene segments (⋄). V_H3-21–using cases with p53 dysfunction are highlighted with arrows.