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: …