Overview Of Study Design This is a prospective, multicenter phase II trial designed to evaluate the safety and activity of the panobinostat in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Study design The trial is conducted according to the optimal two-stage design of Simon with alpha 0.05 and beta 0.10, considering the following two hypotheses: first a response rate (RR) less than 10% is of no further interest; and second, an RR 30% is clinically meaningful. In the initial stage, 18 patients have to enter onto the study. If less than 3 responses (£ 2 in 18) will be observed, the trial would be terminated. Otherwise, accrual will continue to a total of a maximum of 35 patients. At the end of the trial, if 6 or fewer responses will occur among the 35 patients (£ 6 in 35), it will be concluded that the regimen is not worthy of further investigations for that group of patients. The treatment is divided in three phases: induction phase (course 1 to 6), consolidation phase (courses 7 to 12), maintenance phase (from course 13 until the end of therapy for any reason). Study duration This study is expected to start in February 2011. The last patient is expected to be enrolled at the end of January 2013. Considering a possible treatment duration of 24 months, this trial is due to be completed by January 2015.