The aim of the study was to investigate whether interleukin-10 (IL-10) genetic polymorphisms influence this cytokine production as well as the incidence and outcome of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The frequency of IL-10 -1082G allele was found to be higher in 199 patients with DLBCL as compared with 112 control subjects (0.47 versus 0.39, P ‫؍‬ .043). Increased serum levels of IL-10 were associated with adverse prognostic factors and poor DLBCL outcome. The frequencies of IL-10 -819T and IL-10 -592A alleles were lower in patients with elevated IL-10 serum levels (0.155 versus 0.32, P ‫؍‬ .14).

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) outcome was found to be related to the TNF ؊308 polymorphism. To explore whether this could be linked to neighboring polymorphisms, we genotyped the TNF ؊376,؊308,؊238,؊163 , lymphotoxin alpha (LT␣) ؉252 , and HLA DRB1 alleles in 204 patients with NHL and 120 controls. TNF ؊308A was the only allele associated with higher TNF and its p55 and p75 receptors' levels (P ‫؍‬ .009, P ‫؍‬ .03, and P ‫؍‬ .007) and lower complete remission rates (P ‫؍‬ .006). Freedom from progression (FFP) and overall survival (OS) were shorter in patients with TNF ؊308A (P ‫؍‬ .009 and P ‫؍‬ .02), null HLA DRB1*02 allele (P ‫؍‬ .007 and P ‫؍‬ .14), or both genetic markers (P ‫؍‬ .004 and P ‫؍‬ .005

Compared to de novo DLBCL, transformed NHL at diagnosis have similar overall survival but lower complete response to initial treatment and higher risk of indolent relapses.