DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL)

  • Diffuse large cell
  • High-grade Burkitt's or Burkitt-like
  • Primary mediastinal
  • Anaplastic large cell
  • Mantle cell
• No transformed NHL

• Relapsed disease (first or second relapse) after 1 or 2 prior chemotherapy regimens (including investigational agents and/or other antibody therapies) for lymphoma

  • Pre-induction and autologous bone marrow transplantation are considered as 1 prior therapy
  • Rituximab given in combination with or as consolidation after a chemotherapy regimen (without an intervening relapse) is considered 1 prior therapy (rituximab given as a single agent after relapse is considered a separate regimen)
• Must not be suitable for transplantation or aggressive treatment if in first relapse
• Bidimensionally measurable disease
• No CNS involvement by lymphoma

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• Over 18

Performance status:

• Zubrod 0-2

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Absolute neutrophil count at least 500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 75,000/mm^3
• Hematocrit at least 28%

Hepatic:

• PT no greater than 2 seconds of upper limit of normal (ULN)
• PTT no greater than ULN
• Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL
• SGOT/SGPT less than 2.5 times ULN (no greater than 5 times ULN if evidence of liver metastasis)

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min
• Proteinuria no greater than 500 mg by 24-hour urine collection

Cardiovascular:

• No uncompensated coronary artery disease by EKG or physical examination
• No transient ischemic attack within the past 6 months
• No cerebrocardiovascular accident within the past 6 months
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No unstable angina within the past 6 months
• No uncontrolled atrial fibrillation within the past 6 months
• No other arterial thromboembolic event within the past 6 months
• No uncontrolled hypertension
• No clinical evidence of severe peripheral vascular disease
• No venous stasis ulcers
• No prior deep venous or arterial thrombosis within the past 3 months

Other:

• No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No acute healing bone fracture
• No prior uncontrolled seizures
• No diabetic ulcers
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• HIV negative

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 12 weeks since prior rituximab

Chemotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 2 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered

Endocrine therapy:

• No concurrent oral steroids
• Concurrent steroid inhaler or nasal spray allowed

Radiotherapy:

• At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

• At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery except placement of venous access device

Other:

• At least 2 weeks since other prior therapy
• No concurrent chronic oral or parenteral anticoagulants (unless for patency of indwelling IV catheter) or anti-platelet therapy (more than 325 mg aspirin per day)