Chemotherapy and Rituximab With Peripheral Stem Cell Transplantation in Treating Patients With Mantle Cell Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed mantle cell lymphoma
* Presenting with at least one of the following:

  * Coexpression of CD20 (or CD19) and CD5 and a lack of CD23 expression by immunophenotyping
  * Positive for cyclin D1 by immunostaining
  * Presence of t(11,14) by cytogenetic analysis
  * Molecular evidence of bcl-1/IgH rearrangement
* Stage I-IV disease

  * Stage III or IV if nodular histology mantle cell lymphoma present
  * Any stage for other mantle cell histologies
  * No mantle zone histology
* No active CNS disease

  * No symptomatic meningeal lymphoma
  * No known CNS parenchymal lymphoma
  * Lumbar puncture showing mantle cell lymphoma allowed
* Bidimensionally measurable disease greater than 1 cm

  * Nonmeasurable disease includes the following:

    * Bone lesions
    * Leptomeningeal disease
    * Ascites
    * Pleural/pericardial effusion
    * Inflammatory breast disease
    * Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis
    * Abdominal masses not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques
    * Cystic lesions
    * Lesions in a previously irradiated area

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 to 69

Performance status:

* Not specified

Life expectancy:

* Not specified

Hematopoietic:

* Not specified

Hepatic:

* Hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C antibody positive patients must meet all of the following criteria:

  * Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
  * AST no greater than 3 times ULN
  * Liver biopsy shows no greater than grade 2 fibrosis and no cirrhosis

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

* LVEF at least 45% by MUGA or echocardiogram

Other:

* No known hypersensitivity to murine products
* HIV negative
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* No more than 1 prior dose of rituximab

Chemotherapy:

* No more than 1 prior cycle of chemotherapy
* At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy
* No other concurrent chemotherapeutic agents

Endocrine therapy:

* No chronic use of oral corticosteroids for ongoing medical condition
* No concurrent hormonal therapy except for non-lymphoma-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes)
* Other concurrent corticosteroids for adrenal failure, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, carmustine pneumonitis, or as an anti-emetic allowed

Radiotherapy:

* No prior radiotherapy for mantle cell lymphoma
* Concurrent palliative radiotherapy allowed
* Concurrent cranial radiotherapy for asymptomatic meningeal lymphoma allowed

Surgery:

* At least 2 weeks since prior major surgery