BACKGROUND The prognosis of advanced stage or high grade cutaneous lymphomas is very poor in case of recurrence after conventional polychemotherapy. Recent studies have confirmed the importance of intensified treatment with autologous bone marrow transplantation in case of recurrence. We used this method in patients with a cutaneous lymphoma with poor prognosis. METHODS Seven patients with a high-grade or disseminated cutaneous lymphoma were given an autologous bone marrow graft in case of recurrence after one or more polychemotherapy protocols. In 4 patients, treatment included total body irradiation and high-dose chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide/etoposide, or aracytine/melphalan) and in the 3 others chemotherapy alone (BEAM or BEAC) was used prior to transplantation. RESULTS Two complete remissions of 46 and 34 months duration after graft were achieved without complementary treatment. One patient had partial remission. Recurrence was observed in 2 patients 5 months after the graft and in 1 other 30 months later. Prolonged complete remission was observed in patients given total body irradiation and the early recurrences in those given chemotherapy alone. CONCLUSIONS This pilot study demonstrates that patients with a poor prognosis cutaneous lymphoma can achieve prolonged complete remission by therapy intensification using autologous bone marrow transplantation after total body irradiation.