A Study of Rituximab Alternative Dosing Rate in Patients With Previously Untreated Diffuse Large B-cell or Follicular Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (RATE)

Inclusion Criteria:

• Written informed consent

• Age ≥ 18 years

• Patients with previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who arescheduled to receive rituximab 375 mg/m^2 plus CHOP (cyclophosphamide,hydroxydaunorubicin [also called doxorubicin or adriamycin], Oncovin [vincristine],prednisone or prednisolone) chemotherapy, or previously untreated follicularnon-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) who are scheduled to receive rituximab 375 mg/m^2 plus CVP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisolone) chemotherapy

• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2

Exclusion Criteria:

• Clinically significant cardiovascular disease (eg, uncontrolled hypertension, myocardialinfarction, unstable angina), New York Heart Association (NYHA) Classification Grade II orgreater congestive heart failure, a ventricular arrhythmia requiring medication within 1year prior to Day 1, or NYHA Grade II or greater peripheral vascular disease on Day 1 (first day of treatment) Patients who meet any of the following criteria will be excluded from further studyparticipation after Cycle 1:

• Circulating lymphocyte count > 5,000/μL before the Cycle 2 rituximab infusion

• Development of a serious and/or Grade 3 or 4 adverse event during Cycle 1 judged bythe investigator to be related to the rituximab infusion

• Prior premedication with additional corticosteroids other than the prednisone includedin the chemotherapy regimens