DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in first relapse or refractory after primary induction therapy

• Histologically confirmed Hodgkin's lymphoma in first relapse after chemotherapy with more than one nodal region involved at relapse or refractory after primary induction therapy (i.e., failed to achieve remission at the conclusion of standard induction chemotherapy)

  • No prior radiotherapy only for low stage nodal disease
  • No greater than 4 courses of standard chemotherapy for low stage nodal disease
• CSF or bone marrow involvement at time of study entry is allowed

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 1 to 21 (at initial diagnosis)

Performance status:

• Not specified

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Not specified

Hepatic:

• SGOT or SGPT less than 2.5 times normal
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

Renal:

• Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL
• Glomerular filtration rate greater than 60 mL/min as measured by radionuclide scan or 24 hour urine collection for creatinine clearance

Cardiovascular:

• Shortening fraction of at least 28% by echocardiogram
• Ejection fraction of at least 40% by radionuclide angiogram echocardiogram

Pulmonary:

• Total lung capacity (TLC) at least 50% OR
• Vital capacity (VC) at least 65% of normal
• DLCO at least 55% of normal
• For children who are uncooperative to pulmonary function testing, no dyspnea at rest or with mild exercise, and a pulse oximetry of at least 95%

Other:

• HIV negative

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics

Surgery:

• Not specified