OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of Fc gamma receptor IIIa (FcγR IIIa) polymorphisms on the efficacy of rituximab (RTX) combined chemotherapy for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

METHODSFcγRIIIa polymorphisms were analyzed by PCR in 122 patients and 100 healthy controls. All patients received 8(4-12) cycles of RTX combined chemotherapy.

RESULTS78(63.93%) patients with F/F, 5(4.10%) with V/V, and 39(31.97%) with V/F were identified, which were not different compared to controls. Patients with different FcγRIIIa genotypes did not have any difference in terms of gender, age, molecular subtypes, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) or international prognostic index (IPI). The overall response rate (ORR) was 89.35% with a complete response (CR) of 80.33% and a partial response (PR) of 9.02%. The ORR was 83.33%, 100.00% and 100.00% in F/F, V/V and V/F, respectively. A higher response rate was observed in V/V and V/F as compared with F/F (P<0.05). With a median follow-up of 35 months (range: 12-62 months), 46(37.71%) patients had relapsed and 40 (32.79%) cases progressed and ended in death. The 3-year progress-free survival (PFS) rate was 41.03%, 100.00%, 100.00% in F/F, V/V and V/F, respectively. The 3-year overall survival (OS) rate was 48.72%, 100.00% and 100.00% in patients with three genotypes. The PFS and OS rate were significantly higher in V/V and V/F as compared with F/F (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONFcγR III a polymorphisms could predict response and prognosis of RTX combined chemotherapy for patients with DLBCL.