Rituximab, Cyclophosphamide, and G-CSF Followed By Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients Who Are Undergoing Autologous Stem Cell Transplant Followed By Rituximab and GM-CSF for Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, meeting 1 of the following criteria:

  * Failed to achieve at least partial remission
  * Failed to respond to prior primary therapy or salvage chemotherapy
  * Disease progression within 6 weeks after achieving remission
* CD20 expression at diagnosis or relapse
* No more than 4 prior regimens using chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immunotherapy

  * The addition of radiotherapy or a monoclonal antibody to chemotherapy is considered 1 treatment regimen provided the addition was part of the initial treatment plan

    * The addition of these therapies due to lack of response or poor response is considered an additional treatment regimen whether given in the front line or salvage setting

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Performance status

* ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy

* Not specified

Hematopoietic

* Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,000/mm\^3
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3

Hepatic

* Direct bilirubin ≤ 2 mg/dL
* AST or ALT \< 3 times upper limit of normal

Renal

* Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

* Ejection fraction ≥ 40%

Pulmonary

* DLCO ≥ 60% of predicted

Other

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No other malignancy within the past 2 years except curatively treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
* No active infection requiring oral or IV antibiotics
* HIV negative

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

* See Disease Characteristics
* See Radiotherapy

Chemotherapy

* See Disease Characteristics

Radiotherapy

* See Disease Characteristics
* No prior radioimmunotherapy