Combination Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy Plus Bone Marrow Transplantation in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven or unequivocal radiologic evidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that has relapsed or is refractory after first-line chemotherapy Unequivocal radiologic evidence of relapse defined as the presence of enlarged (at least 2 cm diameter) lymph nodes by CT scan or lymphangiogram Biopsy of accessible lymph nodes to confirm relapse encouraged Low-, intermediate-, or high-grade disease Normal bilateral bone marrow biopsy at time of bone marrow collection required (cellularity at least 20% and no histologic evidence of tumor) History of marrow involvement allowed if present marrow is histologically normal No disease progression in a previously irradiated site 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: 16 and over Performance status: CALGB 0-2 Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: More than 2 months Hematopoietic: Neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 3 times normal SGOT and SGPT less than 3 times normal Alkaline phosphatase less than 3 times normal Hepatitis B surface antigen negative Renal: Creatinine normal Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: Cardiac ejection fraction normal by MUGA scan No uncontrolled or severe cardiovascular disease, including the following: Myocardial infarction within the past 6 months Congestive heart failure Symptomatic angina (despite optimal medical management) Life-threatening arrhythmia or hypertension Pulmonary: Pulmonary function tests (DLCO and spirometry) greater than 60% predicted Other: HIV negative No serious organ dysfunction (unless caused by lymphoma) No active bacterial, viral, or fungal infection No active peptic ulcer disease No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus No other malignancy except curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer No other serious medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude study Not pregnant

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics Prior nitrosourea allowed if cumulative dose no more than 600 mg/m2 Prior bleomycin allowed if cumulative dose no more than 300 units/m2 Prior doxorubicin allowed if cumulative dose no more than 450 mg/m2 No prior high-dose etoposide (more than 1,800 mg/m2) No prior high-dose cyclophosphamide (more than 100 mg/kg) No chemotherapy within 4 weeks (no melphalan, nitrosourea, or mitomycin within 6 weeks) prior to bone marrow collection No prior salvage therapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No prior radiotherapy to liver or lung Prior other radiotherapy allowed if doses do not exceed the following limits: 1,400 cGy to the mediastinum 1,400 cGy to the whole abdomen 4,000 cGy to the CNS Surgery: Not specified