Here we report the results of a randomised multicenter phase III clinical trial which assesses the therapeutic efficacy and tolerability of a chemotherapy protocol CEMP (cyclophosphamide, etoposide, mitoxantrone and prednisone) in adult and elderly patients with advanced intermediate and high-grade NHL. Between October 1991 and October 1995, 139 patients, aged 55 to 79 years, with diffuse intermediate and high-grade lymphoma, were enrolled. A considerable percentage of patients had clinically aggressive disease: 32.4% had systemic symptoms, 79% had stage III or IV disease, 33.8% had bone marrow involvement, 46% had splenic involvement and 42.5% had increased values of serum lactate dehydrogenate. Complete remission was achieved in 70 of the 139 patients (51.9%) and PR in 12 (16.6%) with an overall response of 68.5%. The overall response survival rate at 6 years was 39%, whereas DFS rate was 48.7% and PFS rate was 28.5%. At four years 49% of the patients were still in CR. Dividing the patients in two groups, under and over 65 years of age, we obtained the same results as far as overall response is concerned. No toxic deaths occurred, neither cardiac, renal nor liver complications happened. CEMP regimen is an effective and safe protocol with good results in elderly people, well comparable to those achieved in younger ones.