DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

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

  • Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
  • Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma
  • Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (B-cell, T-cell, or null-cell type)

• At least two of the following risk factors:

  • Stage III or IV
  • LDH greater than upper limit of normal (ULN)
  • ECOG 2, 3, or 4
• No CNS involvement

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 to 60

Performance status:

• See Disease Characteristics
• ECOG 0-4

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Not specified

Hepatic:

• No hepatitis B or C
• AST or ALT no greater than 2 times ULN*
• Bilirubin no greater than 2.34 mg/dL* NOTE: *Unless due to tumor involvement

Renal:

• Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min (unless due to tumor involvement)

Cardiovascular:

• No significant heart failure
• LVEF normal
• No active angina pectoris
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No major ventricular arrhythmia

Pulmonary:

• No significant lung disorder

Other:

• HIV negative
• No severe active acute or chronic infection
• No severe psychoses
• No prior or concurrent malignancy except adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or nonmelanomatous skin cancer
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• No prior chemotherapy for NHL (except emergency therapy, but no more than 1 course of standard chemotherapy)

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• No prior radiotherapy for NHL (except emergency therapy of no greater than 600 cGy radiation)
• No concurrent prophylactic radiotherapy to the brain

Surgery:

• Not specified