DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL)

  • Low- or high-intermediate or high-risk lymphoma of any of the following subtypes:

    • Mantle cell lymphoma
    • Follicular lymphoma (grade III)
    • Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
• CD20-positive
• No suspected or documented CNS involvement by NHL NOTE: 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.

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 65 and over

Performance status:

• WHO 0-2

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Not specified

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin less than 1.75 mg/dL*
• Transaminases less than 2.5 times normal* NOTE: * Unless due to NHL

Renal:

• Creatinine less than 1.7 mg/dL (unless due to NHL)

Cardiovascular:

• No severe cardiac dysfunction
• No New York Heart Association class II-IV heart disease
• LVEF at least 45%

Pulmonary:

• No uncontrolled asthma requiring steroid treatment

Other:

• HIV negative
• No intolerance to exogenous protein administration
• No active, uncontrolled infection
• No uncontrolled allergy requiring steroid treatment
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell skin cancer or stage 0 cervical cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• No prior immunotherapy for NHL

Chemotherapy:

• No prior chemotherapy for NHL

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• No prior radiotherapy for NHL except local radiotherapy for potential organ dysfunction by localized lymphoma mass or infiltration
• Concurrent local radiotherapy for potential or actual organ dysfunction by localized lymphoma mass or infiltration allowed

Surgery:

• Not specified