It has been shown that the addition of rituximab to CHOP regimen significantly improved the CR rate in elderly patients with previously untreated large B-cell lymphoma when compared with CHOP alone without additional toxicities. Moreover, event-free survival and overall survival were found to be longer in the R-CHOP group. The present trial will evaluate the response rate obtained after four cycles of ACVBP combined to rituximab (R-ACVBP) before high dose therapy consolidative treatment in this group of higher risk patients.