Gallium nitrate was administered as a 700-mg/m2 iv bolus infusion over 15-30 minutes every 2 weeks to 138 patients with malignant lymphoproliferative diseases. Responses occurred in patients with well-differentiated lymphomas (five responses among eight patients), but the drug produced few responses in any other group of patients. Toxic effects were primarily gastrointestinal and reversible renal abnormalities and anemia. As a single agent, bolus gallium nitrate has little activity in lymphoproliferative diseases.