Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed intermediate or high grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and
mantle cell lymphoma with clinical or pathological evidence of recurrent disease

- Measurable or evaluable disease

- CNS metastases not requiring intravenous steroid therapy allowed

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- Age: 18 and over

- Performance status: CALGB 0-2

- Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks

- Absolute neutrophil count at least 1500/mm3 (unless due to bone marrow involvement by
lymphoma)

- Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 (unless due to bone marrow involvement by
lymphoma)

- At least 7 days since platelet transfusion

- Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL

- Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

- Transaminases no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal

- Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min

- No significant uncontrolled medical or psychiatric illness

- No active serious infection

- Not pregnant or lactating

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- Central venous catheter required prior to study entry

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen

- At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered from all toxic effects Prior
chemotherapy must contain anthracycline if intermediate or high-grade NHL other than
mantle cell

- No concurrent treatment with other chemotherapeutic or investigational antineoplastic
drugs

- At least 4 weeks since prior radiation therapy and recovered (Site of only measurable
disease must not be located within prior radiation therapy port)

- No concurrent radiation therapy to any lesion