Eighteen patients with advanced refractory lymphomas were treated with 2-methyl-hydroxyellipticinium (ellipticinium); there were 14 non-Hodgkin's (NHL) and 4 Hodgkin's lymphomas (HL). Ellipticinium was administered at the dose of 100 mg/m2 daily for 3 days i.v. with courses repeated at 3 week intervals. Preliminary results indicate some antitumor activity of the drug against NHL with minimal toxicity. Of the 16 evaluable patients 1 partial remission and 7 minor responses were noted among the NHL (65%). Myelosuppression was minimal and clinical toxicity was mild. Further evaluation of this drug in untreated patients appears to be warranted.