DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven stage I, II, III, or IV low- or intermediate-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Small lymphocytic Follicular small cleaved cell Follicular mixed cell Follicular large cell Marginal Diffuse large B-cell Lymphoplasmacytoid Patients with small lymphocytic lymphoma must have an absolute lymphocyte count less than 10,000/mm3 At least one bidimensionally measurable site At least 1.5 cm in its greatest dimension Not in field of prior radiotherapy Progressive disease after at least one prior treatment regimen for lymphoma 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.