S0016 Combination Chemotherapy With Monoclonal Antibody Therapy in Newly Diagnosed Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

   - Histologically confirmed previously untreated bulky stage II or stage III or IV
   follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

      - Grade I-III disease

   - Cluster of differentiation antigen 20 (CD20) antigen positive

   - Fewer than 5,000/mm^3 circulating lymphoid cells on a white blood cell (WBC)
   differential count

   - Bidimensionally measurable disease

   - Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy within the past 42 days

   - No clinical evidence of central nervous system (CNS) involvement by lymphoma

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

   - 18 and over

Performance status:

   - Zubrod 0-2

Life expectancy:

   - Not specified

Hematopoietic:

   - See Disease Characteristics

   - Granulocyte count greater than 1,500/mm^3

   - Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

   - Not specified

Renal:

   - Not specified

Cardiovascular:

   - No impaired cardiac status, including:

      - Severe coronary artery disease

      - Cardiomyopathy

      - Congestive heart failure

      - Serious arrhythmia

   - Ejection fraction at least lower limit of normal by Multi Gated Acquisition Scan
   (MUGA) or 2-D echocardiogram for questionable cardiac history

Other:

   - No hypersensitivity to iodine

   - Not pregnant or nursing

   - Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after study
   participation

   - HIV negative

   - No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or
   squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

   - No prior monoclonal antibodies for cancer

Chemotherapy:

   - No prior chemotherapy for lymphoma

      - Prior prednisone for non-lymphoma related illnesses allowed

Endocrine therapy:

   - Not specified

Radiotherapy:

   - No prior radiotherapy for lymphoma

Surgery:

   - See Disease Characteristics