Inclusion Criteria:

- male or female patients, >=18 years of age;

- B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia not yet requiring treatment;

- ECOG performance status 0-2;

- no previous treatment of CLL by chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy;

- life expectancy >6 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

- CNS involvement by lymphoma or any evidence of spinal cord compression;

- CT scan based evidence of tumor invading major blood vessels;

- GI tract involvement by CLL;

- active viral, bacterial or fungal infection;

- uncontrolled hypertension, CVA/stroke (<=6 months prior to randomization), myocardial
infarction (<=6 months prior to randomization), unstable angina (>=NYHA Grade IV),
thrombosis within 6 months before enrollment, NYHA Grade II CHF or serious cardiac
arrhythmia requiring ongoing medication.