Recent studies specifically directed toward assessing the outcome of older patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) indicate that age per se is an important and independent prognostic factor for response and survival. Prospective studies have addressed therapeutic approaches in these patients. Direct comparison of trial results is difficult since different age limits were set for the inclusion of patients in study. These studies suggest that older patients with aggressive NHL should be treated with curative intent. We report on selected prospective clinical trials of the literature and the Aviano Group experience in the treatment of NHL in the elderly. In particular we refer our data of a randomized study (CHOP vs VMP), conducted within the EORTC Lymphoma Group, and the results obtained with chemotherapy and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.