Summary This trial involved 457 patients and sought to assess the value of early intensification with autologous transplantation in patients with poor prognosis histologically aggressive non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) showing a response to initial CHOP (cyclosphosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisolone) chemotherapy. Randomization was made at the time of diagnosis with 223 assigned to continuing CHOP and 234 to 3 cycles of CHOP followed by a BEAM (carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan) autograft. Analysis was on an intention to treat basis. After the initial three cycles of CHOP 19% of the whole group were in complete response (CR) and 53% in partial remission (PR). At the end of treatment 86% of patients in the CHOP arm had responded with 58% in CR. In the high‐dose therapy arm the overall response rate was 83% with 64% in CR (difference between arms not significant). The progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival at 5 years for the continuing CHOP arm were 38% and 50% respectively, and for the autograft arm were 44% and 50% (differences not significant). Of the patients who attained CR and subsequently relapsed, there were no long‐term survivors in the autograft recipients compared to 46% of the continuing CHOP recipients (P = 0·0008). In conclusion, no survival benefit was demonstrated for an early autograft in first response.