Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on cytokine genes in the development of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). One hundred and twelve patients and 221 controls were investigated. Among them, 97 patients treated with R-CHOP were subdivided into two groups: (i) complete remission of the disease and (ii) patients who progressed to death, relapsed, or had disease progression. The SNPs investigated by PCR-SSP were TNF -308G>A (rs1800629), IFNG +874A>T (rs2430561), IL6 -174G>C (rs1800795), IL10 -1082A>G (rs1800896), IL10 -819C>T (rs1800871), IL10 -592C>A (rs1800872), and TGFB1 codon10T>C (rs1982073) and codon25G>C (rs1800471). In general, the genotypes that have been associated in the literature with lower production or intermediate production of IL-10 and higher production of IFN-γ were associated with the protection of the development of the disease, possibly favoring the Th1 immune response and diminishing the capacity of cell proliferation. However, patients receiving R-CHOP treatment presented unfavorable prognoses in the presence of genotypes related to the intermediate production of IL-10 and high production of TGF-β1, indicating that cytokines may be related to the response to treatment and action mechanisms of Rituximab.