This study is a multicentric randomized trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of R-CHOP given every 14 days compared to R-CHOP given every 21 days in association or not with darbepoetin alfa in order to maintain hemoglobin above 13 g/dl, compared to classical symptomatic treatment of anemia in patients aged from 60 to 80 years with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

In patients aged 60 to 75 years with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, the shortening of interval between the courses of CHOP combination (CHOP-14), improves the complete response rate, the progression free survival and the overall survival.

The addition of Rituximab to standard CHOP (R-CHOP) has also been shown to improve complete remission rate (CR), event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) in elderly patients with B-DLCL.

The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that the increase of the dose intensity by shortening the interval between two courses of R-CHOP (R-CHOP-14)could further improve the results of the R-CHOP.

Anemia is frequent at diagnosis and during the treatment of aggressive lymphoma. In the previous LNH 98-5 study, 72 % of the patients had, at the diagnosis, a hemoglobin level inferior to 13 g/dl. Moreover, during the treatment, 92 % of the patients had a hemoglobin level less than 13 g/dl and 30 % were transfused. The presence of anemia at diagnosis is an indicator of poor prognosis in multivariate analysis. This prognosis impact could probably be explained at cellular level on the tumor. Tumoral hypoxia is increased by the presence of anemia. Due to this hypoxia, the expression of tumor growth factor may be increased: e.a VEGF and the induction of expression of multi drug resistance (MDR1) is observed. This resistance to treatment is also due to the inhibition of genotoxic activity of free radicals induced by ionised radiation and chemotherapy. Experimentally, the negative impact of hypoxia on the efficacy of chemotherapy has been demonstrated in sarcoma cell lines for doxorubicin, vincristine and all most cyclophosphamide. Finally, hypoxia induced over expression of apoptosis resistance genes and induced a growth advantage for apoptosis resistant tumoral lines. Improvement of survival in patients receiving erythropoetin with chemotherapy or radiotherapy was suggested in a study on patients treated with a neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy for head and neck cancer. Erythropoetin could act to protect several normal tissues during chemotherapy and thus could decrease treatment related morbidity. Darbepoetin alfa is a new recombinant protein stimulating erythropoiesis. Thus, the use of darbepoetin alfa, in association with chemotherapy, could increase CR rate, EFS and OS in patients treated for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

This study is a multicentric, phase III open-label, randomized trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of R-CHOP given every 14 days compared to R-CHOP given every 21 days in association or not with darbepoetin alfa in order to maintain hemoglobin above 13 g/dl, compared to classical symptomatic treatment of anemia in patients aged 66 to 80 years with not previously treated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with at least one adverse prognostic factor of the age adjusted IPI.

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients with histologically proven CD20+ diffuse large B cell lymphoma (WHO Classification).

Aged 66 to 80 years old. Patients not previously treated. Ann Arbor stage II, III, IV. ECOG performance status 0 to 2. Age-adjusted IPI equal to 1, 2, or 3. With a minimum life expectancy of 3 months. Negative HIV, HBV and HCV serologies test < 4 weeks (except after vaccination for HBV).

Having signed a written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

Any other histological type of lymphoma. Any history of treated or non-treated indolent lymphoma. However, patients not previously diagnosed and having a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with some small cell infiltration in bone marrow or lymph node may be included.

Central nervous system or meningeal involvement by lymphoma. Contra-indication to any drug contained in the chemotherapy regimens. Any serious co-morbid active disease (according to the investigator's decision).

Poor renal function (creatinin level > 150 micromol/l), poor hepatic function (total bilirubin level > 30mmol/l, transaminases > 2.5 maximum normal level) unless these abnormalities are related to the lymphoma.

Poor bone marrow reserve as defined by neutrophils < 1.5 G/l or platelets < 100 G/l, unless related to bone marrow infiltration.

Any history of cancer during the last 5 years with the exception of non-melanoma skin tumors or stage 0 (in situ) cervical carcinoma.

Uncontrolled hypertension. Known hypersensitivity to erythropoietin. Myocardial infarction during last 3 month, or unstable coronary disease, or uncontrolled cardiac insufficiency.

Venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism during last 3 months. Treatment with any investigational drug within 30 days before planned first cycle of chemotherapy and during the study.

Pregnant or lactating women. Adult patient under tutelage.