DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed stage II, III, or IV non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (including immunoblastic features) OR Anaplastic large cell lymphoma No mantle cell lymphomas including equivocal B-cell lymphomas that are CD5+ and CD23-, have t(11;14), or express markers of mantle cell lymphoma or other subtypes No low-grade lymphoma (e.g., follicular center cells in bone marrow) Patients who have 3-5 International Prognostic Index risk factors must have refused participation in SWOG-S9704/CALGB-59903 trial No known lymphomatous CNS involvement, including parenchymal or leptomeningeal involvement