Phase II Prospective Trial of Addition of Rituximab to Reduced Dose CHOP Chemotherapy in DLBC L Patients Aged 65 Years and Over

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Histologically confirmed CD20 positive DLBCL
2. Age ≥ 65 years
3. Ann Arbor stage II, III and IV
4. No prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy for DLBCL
5. Performance status (ECOG) ≤ 2
6. At least one or more bidimensionally measurable lesion(s)

   * 2 cm by conventional CT
   * 1 cm by spiral CT skin lesion (photographs should be taken) ≥ 2 cm measurable lesion by physical examination ≥ 2 cm
7. Cardiac ejection fraction ≥ 50 % as measured by MUGA or 2DECHO without clinically significant abnormalities
8. Adequate renal function: serum creatinine level \< 2 mg/dL (177 μmol/L)
9. Adequate liver functions:

   Transaminase (AST/ALT) \< 3 X upper normal value (or \< 5 x ULN in the presence of DLBCL involvement of the liver) Bilirubin \< 2 X upper normal value (or \< 5 x ULN in the presence of DLBCL involvement of the liver)
10. Adequate BM functions: hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,500/μL and platelet count ≥ 75,000/μL, unless abnormalities are due to bone marrow involvement by lymphoma
11. Life expectancy more than 6 months
12. A negative serum or urine pregnancy test prior to treatment must be available both for pre-menopausal women and for women who are \< 1years after the onset of menopause.
13. Informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Other subtypes NHL than DLCBL
2. Patients who transformed follicular lymphoma or other indolent lymphoma
3. Primary Central Nervous System (CNS) DLBCL
4. CNS involvement by lymphoma or any evidence of spinal cord compression. Brain CT/MRI is only mandatory (within 4 weeks) in case of clinical suspicion of CNS involvement by lymphoma. Patients who have only had prophylactic intrathecal chemotherapy against CNS disease are eligible.
5. Patients with a known history of HIV seropositivity or HCV (+). Patients who have HBV (+) are eligible. However, primary prophylaxis using antiviral agents (i.e. lamivudine) is recommended for HBV carrier to prevent HBV reactivation during whole treatment period.
6. Any other malignancies within the past 5 years except curatively treated non-melanoma skin cancer or in situ carcinoma of cervix uteri
7. Pregnant or lactating women, women of childbearing potential not employing adequate contraception
8. Other serious illness or medical conditions i. Unstable cardiac disease despite treatment, myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to study entry ii. History of significant neurologic or psychiatric disorders including dementia or seizures iii. Active uncontrolled infection (viral, bacterial or fungal infection) iv. Other serious medical illnesses
9. Known hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs or its ingredients (i.e., hypersensitivity to Polysorbate 20, CHO cell products, or recombinant human antibodies)
10. Concomitant administration of any other experimental drug under investigation, or concomitant chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or immunotherapy.