Inclusion Criteria:

- adult patients, 18-75 years of age;

- confirmed diagnosis of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia;

- stage I-IV disease with evidence of progression;

- no previous chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy for B-cell chronic
lymphocytic leukemia;

- ECOG PS 0-2.

Exclusion Criteria:

- active secondary malignancy or transformation to aggressive lymphoma;

- medical condition requiring chronic use of oral corticosteroids at a dose of 1mg/kg
or 60 mg/m2 over 2 weeks;

- prior treatment with interferon, MabThera or another monoclonal antibody,
immunosuppressive treatment or radiotherapy for 12 months before study start;

- history of other malignancies within 2 years before study entry, except for
adequately treated cancer in situ of the cervix, basal or squamous cell skin cancer,
prostate cancer, or breast cancer.