| Inclusion Criteria: | 1) Histologically proven diagnosis of untreated aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This includes: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, anaplastic, 1 degree mediastinal, peripheral T-cell lymphomas and other T-cell types, follicular large cell, and Burkitt-like large B-cell lymphoma.
2) No prior treatment.
3) Signed informed consent form.
4) Adequate bone marrow reserve (ANC > 1,000/L, Plt > 100,000 L) unless due to hypersplenism or bone marrow infiltration.
5) LVEF >/= 50% by MUGA scan or echocardiogram.
6) Serum creatinine < 2 mg/dL, serum bilirubin < 2 mg/dL.
7) Not eligible for protocol of higher priority. This protocol will be first priority for patients older than 60 years with tumor score >/= 3. It will be first priority for those with anaplastic large cell lymphoma and a tumor score </= 2, and second priority for all others.
8) HIV-1/2 negative (other protocol available for HIV-postive patients).
9) Pregnant women are excluded. Women of childbearing potential should practice adequate contraception.
10) No psychiatric illness that precludes understanding concepts of the trial or signing informed consent.
11) No other major life-threatening illness that may preclude chemotherapy.
12) Zubrod performance status </= 3.
13) Primary testicular and primary CNS lymphomas are excluded. |