DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed intermediate or high grade adult non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: Follicular large cell lymphoma Diffuse mixed cell lymphoma Diffuse large cell lymphoma Diffuse immunoblastic lymphoma Poor prognostic features defined as the presence of 2 or 3 of the following: Stage III/IV Lactase dehydrogenase greater than normal ECOG performance status 2-4 A new classification scheme for adult non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has been adopted by PDQ. The terminology of "indolent" or "aggressive" lymphoma will replace the former terminology of "low", "intermediate", or "high" grade lymphoma. However, this protocol uses the former terminology.