DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed intermediate or high grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Stage II, III, or IV disease B-cell where lymphoid cells are CD20 or CD19 positive No mantle cell, lymphoblastic, or peripheral T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Measurable or evaluable disease No prior treatment for lymphoma No known CNS metastases 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.