The results of chemotherapy remain unsatisfactory for many patients with advanced lymphomas. Both standard and more aggressive chemotherapy regimens might have their respective role in the management of theses diseases. We have tested the feasibility and assessed the toxicity and activity of a LNH84-derived chemotherapy for aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in two general hospitals. Thirty-three untreated patients were included over a period of 4 years. Median age was 39 years, 21 were male. International Working Formulation was F for 2 patients, G for 17, H for 8, I for 1, J for 4, one unclassified. Seventeen patients had B symptoms, 15 stage IV, 8 bulky disease, 21 abnormal LDH, 5 performance status ั2. The overall response rate was 93%. The single treatment related death resulted from bleomycin acute pneumonitis. Neutropenia WHO grade 4 occurred in all patients, resulting in infections grade 3 in 12 and thrombocytopenia grade 4 in 3. In the induction phase, courses could never be repeated day 14. The dose intensity of the four drugs contained in this phase is thus calculated between 64.5 and 81.5%. At 3 years, overall survival is 80% and event-free survival is 62%. This LNH84-derived regimen is effective. However, the induction phase is toxic and a 3-weekly interval appears more appropriate. Such intensive treatment might benefit patients with very aggressive lymphomas and this should be studied in randomized comparison against standard CHOP.