Cycle A1: prednisone-cyclophosphamide pre-phase (5 days), Rituximab on day 0, chemotherapy on days 1-5 (dexamethasone, iphosphamide, vincristine, high-dose methotrexate, triple intrathecal therapy).
Cycle B1: Rituximab on day 0, chemotherapy on days 1-5 (dexamethasone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, high-dose methotrexate, adriamycin, triple intrathecal therapy) Cycle C1: Rituximab on day 0, chemotherapy on days 1-5 (dexamethasone, vindesine, high-dose methotrexate, etoposide, high-dose cytarabine).
Cycle A2: like cycle A1, without pre-phase. Cycle B2: like cycle B1. Cycle C2: like cycle C1. Cycle C2 is followed by two additional Rituximab injections.
Notes:
1. patients with stage I-II disease without mediastinal tumor or extranodal involvement receive only the first 4 cycles (A1 to A2).
2. patients aged \>55 years do not receive cycles C (sequence: A1, B1, A2, B2, A3, B3 or A1, B1, A2, B2 if limited stage, with reduced-dose methotrexate).
