| Inclusion Criteria: | 1) Relapsed CD20-positive B-cell diffuse large cell lymphoma (demonstrated in lymph nodes or bone marrow), chemosensitive (at least PR).
2) Age: up to 18-70 years of age.
3) Prestudy performance status of 0, 1, or 2 according to the WHO.
4) No anti-cancer therapy started within three weeks, prior to study initiation, and fully recovered from all toxicities associated with prior surgery, radiation treatments, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy. No prior rituximab within three weeks of starting therapy.
5) If patients had prior radiation, this should have not involved more than 25% of the bone marrow.
6) Acceptable hematologic status within two weeks prior to patient registration, including: Absolute neutrophil count ({segmented neutrophils + bands} x total WBC) > 1,500/mm³ and platelet counts > 80,000/mm³
7) IRB -approved signed informed consent.
8) Patients determined to have <10% bone marrow involvement with lymphoma within 60 days before study entry as defined by bone marrow aspirates and biopsies.
9) Female patients included must not be pregnant or lactating.
10) Patients should have at least 4-6 x 10^6 CD34+/kg peripheral stem cells collected. Around 1-2 million cells will beheld as back up.
11) Voluntary signed, written IRB-approved informed consent before performance of any study-related procedure not part of normal medical care, with the understanding that consent may be withdrawn by the subject at any time without prejudice to future medical care.
12) Men and women of reproductive potential must agree to follow accepted birth control methods for the duration of the study. Female subject is either post-menopausal or surgically sterilized or willing to use an acceptable method of birth control (i.e., a hormonal contraceptive, intra-uterine device, diaphragm with spermicide, condom with spermicide, or abstinence) for the duration of the study. Male subject agrees to use an acceptable method for contraception for the duration of the study. |