Combination Chemotherapy Followed By Vaccine Therapy Plus Sargramostim in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed stage III or IV follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
* At least 1 bidimensionally measurable lesion by radiography, in addition to lesion removed for biopsy
* No clinical evidence of CNS involvement

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

* Not specified

Hematopoietic:

* WBC greater than 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Hepatitis B surface antigen negative
* Hepatitis C antibody negative

Renal:

* Creatinine less than 1.5 times ULN

Other:

* No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
* No history of autoimmune disease
* HIV negative
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* No prior antibody therapy for lymphoma

Chemotherapy:

* No prior cytotoxic therapy for lymphoma

Endocrine therapy:

* No prior corticosteroids for lymphoma
* At least 12 months since prior corticosteroids or immunosuppressants for other conditions
* Prior transient corticosteroids (prior to CT imaging) or optical solutions allowed

Radiotherapy:

* Prior radiotherapy for lymphoma (no more than 2 sites of limited disease) allowed

Surgery:

* See Disease Characteristics

Other:

* No concurrent participation in other therapeutic clinical trial