Standard CHOP chemotherapy administered every 21 days (full dose) for six cycles
Rituximab administered (375 mg/m2) day 1 of each cycle (with usual premedications)
VELCADE is administered prior to rituximab and CHOP on day 1 of each cycle. The dose of VELCADE will be determined by the following dose escalation schedule:
Once completed six cycles of therapy (\~18 weeks), patients will be evaluated every 3 months for the first year post treatment, then every 6 months until disease progression or death for years 2 through 5 post treatment. Patients who have disease progression will be contacted every 6 months until death to assess for survival status.
