Rituximab in Addition to Chemotherapy With Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation as Treatment Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Inclusion Criteria: * previously untreated aggressive B-cell lymphoma (Diffuse Large B-Cell, * Primary Mediastinal, * Follicular grade III b Lymphoma); * age 18 to 60; * III-IV Ann Arbor stage; * 0-2 Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS); * intermediate-high (IH) and high (H) risk score according to age-adjusted International Prognostic Index (IPI). * Patients with Primary Mediastinal Lymphoma were included only if they had advanced stage III or IV disease. Exclusion Criteria: * HIV, * hepatitis B or C virus seropositivity; * CNS involvement at diagnosis; * abnormal renal, pulmonary and hepatic function; * left ventricular ejection fraction less than 45%; * pregnancy.