DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed CD20+ B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma No relapsed intermediate or high grade disease eligible for bone marrow or stem cell transplant Intermediate or high grade disease must have received a prior anthracycline containing regimen Low grade disease (with or without prior therapy) felt to be incurable with standard therapy allowed No CNS involvement by 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.