OBJECTIVES: I. Examine the potential role of high dose etoposide, cyclophosphamide, total body irradiation and bone marrow transplantation for patients at high risk for disease progression. II. Determine the value of monitoring the quality of remission by PCR assessment of BCl-2. III. Evaluate the efficacy of alpha interferon for patients with evidence of residual or recurrent lymphoma. IV. Evaluate the efficacy of bone marrow purging by PCR assessment of BCl-2.