DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed intermediate- or high-grade non- Hodgkin's lymphoma of the following histologies: Follicular, predominantly large cell Diffuse small cleaved cell Diffuse mixed, small and large cell Diffuse large cell Large cell, immunoblastic Lymphoblastic Small noncleaved cell Disease has relapsed following or is resistant to primary anthracycline-containing combination chemotherapy Objective response to salvage DHAP chemotherapy required Ineligible for bone marrow transplantation