OBJECTIVES: I. Estimate the toxicity and feasibility of intensifying the New York I (NYI) regimen by adding etoposide and cytarabine, increasing the dose of methotrexate, using pegaspargase, and compressing the treatment duration (11 months) in previously untreated children with disseminated anaplastic (Ki-1 positive) large cell and large cell T-cell lymphoma. II. Provide preliminary data for a future phase III study that will compare this intensified regimen with the high-risk ALL regimen NYI in children with disseminated lymphoblastic lymphoma. III. Continue to investigate the immunophenotype, cytogenetics, and molecular biology of lymphoblastic lymphoma and their relationship to leukemia. IV. Obtain preliminary data on treatment of anaplastic large cell (Ki-1) and T-cell large cell lymphoma treated with intensive NYI.