We have reported the efficacy of the salvage chemotherapy P-IMVP16/CBDCA for patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who had previously received CHOP before the availability of rituximab (R). Here, we confirmed the efficacy of R combined with P-IMVP16/CBDCA as a salvage chemotherapy for patients with DLBCL, who had previously received R-CHOP. We retrospectively analysed 59 patients with relapse or refractory DLBCL (38 male patients and 21 female patients) presenting between June 2004 and June 2013. The patients received R 375mg/m(2) on day 1, methylprednisolone 1000mg/body for 3days (from day 3 to day 5), ifosfamide 1000mg/m(2) for 5days (from day 3 to day 7), methotrexate 30mg/m(2) on day 5 and day 12, etoposide 80mg/m(2) for 3days (from day 3 to day 5), and carboplatin 300mg/m(2) on day 3 every 21days. Patients aged 70years or older were given 75% of the standard dose. The overall response rate (complete response+partial response) was 64.4%. The 2-year overall survival rate was 55.3%. The 2-year progression free survival rate was 34.7%. The 2-year overall survival rate was 61.5% for the relapse patients, and 15.6% for the refractory patients (p<0.0001). One patient died because of sepsis related to the treatment regimen. Non-hematological adverse effects were mild and tolerable. The R-P-IMVP-16/CBDCA regimen displayed a significant activity in relapsed DLBCL, with acceptable toxicity, and should be considered a candidate for salvage chemotherapy. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.