In a randomised, open-label trial, a total of 399 previously untreated elderly patients (age 60 to 80 years) with diffuse large B cell lymphoma received standard CHOP chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide 750 mg/ m2, doxorubicin 50 mg/ m2, vincristine 1.4 mg/ m2 up to a maximum of 2 mg on day 1, and prednisolone 40 mg/ m2/ day on days 1-5) every 3 weeks for eight cycles, or MabThera 375 mg/ m2 plus CHOP (R-CHOP).