FCGR3A and FCGR2A polymorphisms may not correlate with response to alemtuzumab in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Blood. 2005 Jan 1;105(1):289-91. doi: 10.1182/blood-2004-02-0651. Epub 2004 Jun 24.

Abstract

The in vivo mechanism of action of alemtuzumab (anti-CD52; Campath-1H) remains unclear. With rituximab, FCGR3A and FCGR2A high-affinity polymorphisms have been associated with clinical response in lymphoma but not in CLL, suggesting potential divergent mechanisms of action between these 2 diseases. Herein, we examined FCGR3A (V/V, n = 4; V/F, n = 10; F/F, n = 19) and FCGR2A (A/A, n = 5; H/A, n = 22; H/H, n = 6) polymorphisms in 36 patients with relapsed CLL who were treated with thrice-weekly alemtuzumab for 12 weeks to assess the potential influence these high-affinity FcgammaR receptor polymorphisms had on response to alemtuzumab. Response to alemtuzumab was similar regardless of FCGR3A polymorphism (V/V, 25%; V/F, 40%; F/F, 32%) or FCGR2A polymorphism (A/A, 40%; H/A, 32%; H/H, 33%). These findings indicate that FCGR3A and FCGR2A polymorphisms may not predict response to alemtuzumab in CLL. Future studies examining larger cohorts of alemtuzumab-treated patients with CLL will be required to definitively determine the predictive value of specific FCGR polymorphisms to treatment response.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Alemtuzumab
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antibodies, Neoplasm / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / genetics*
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / immunology
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Polymorphism, Genetic / genetics*
  • Receptors, IgG / genetics*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antibodies, Neoplasm
  • FCGR2A protein, human
  • FCGR3A protein, human
  • Receptors, IgG
  • Alemtuzumab