This is a phase II prospective non-randomised clinical trial in newly diagnosed and previously untreated adult patients in the age range 18-60 (67) years with peripheral T-cell lymphoma.

The treatment schedule will consist of three phases: induction and high-dose consolidation, followed by autologous stem cell rescue. There will be two different induction schedules: one for patients in the age range 18-60 years and one for patients aged over 60 years.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Previously untreated patients with newly diagnosed peripheral T-cell lymphoma of all stages. However, patients with nodal stage IA non-bulky disease (<10cm) can be treated individually at the discretion of the responsible physician.
• Following histologic subtypes (WHO classification) are eligible for inclusion in the study:

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas, unspecified Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma NK/T nasal-type T-cell lymphoma Enteropathy-type T-cell lymphoma Primary systemic, alk-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma (T-or null phenotype) Hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma

NB: Patients should not enter the treatment program before confirmation of the histo-pathological diagnosis by the referral center pathologist

• Age 18-60 years. Patients in the age range 61-67 years may be included in this protocol at discretion of the treating physician.
• formed consent based on oral and written patient information (Appendix I)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Primary cutaneous T-or null-cell anaplastic large-cell lymphoma
• Alk-positive, primary systemic T-or null-cell anaplastic large-cell lymphoma
• WHO Performance Status grade 4 (Appendix II)
• Patients with severe cardiac (i.e. severe heart failure requiring symptomatic treatment or a cardiac ejection fraction of less than 45%), pulmonary, neurologic, psychiatric, renal, hepatic or metabolic disease.
• Pregnancy. N.B: Women of childbearing potential should be strongly advised to apply appropriate contraceptive precautions during the entire treatment period.
• Patients with concomitant malignancies except for non-melanoma skin tumors or stage 0 (in situ) cervical carcinoma.
• Patients with seropositivity for the human immunodeficiency virus.
• Patients with other active and therapeutically uncontrolled infection.
• Psychological, familial, social or other condition/-s potentially hampering compliance and follow-up.