DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically proven follicular center cell lymphoma with surface immunoglobulin (Ig) M, G, or A phenotype

  • Grade I (follicular small cleaved cell)
  • Grade II (follicular mixed small and large cell)
  • Grade III (follicular large cell)
• Stage III, IV, or recurrent disease
• Previously untreated with chemotherapy or monoclonal antibody therapy OR
• Recurrent, residual disease or progressive disease after prior prednisone, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide (PACE) chemotherapy
• Peripheral lymph node of at least 2 cm and accessible for biopsy/harvest
• No primary or secondary CNS lymphoma

• Must not have any of the following:

  • Rapidly progressing lymphadenopathy
  • Bone marrow failure secondary to lymphoma
  • B symptoms
  • Neurovascular or organ compromise secondary to lymphoma

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• Karnofsky 70-100%

Life expectancy:

• More than 1 year

Hematopoietic:

• Not specified

Hepatic:

• ALT/AST no greater than 3.5 times upper limit of normal
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL unless secondary to Gilbert's disease
• Hepatitis B surface antigen negative
• Hepatitis C antibody negative

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

Other:

• HIV negative
• No active infection
• No other prior or concurrent malignancy except curatively treated squamous cell or basal cell skin cancer or effectively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No medical or psychiatric condition that would preclude study
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No other concurrent biologic therapy for lymphoma

Chemotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 months since prior PACE chemotherapy
• No concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• At least 2 weeks since prior steroid treatment
• Less than 2 months of prior prednisone
• No concurrent endocrine therapy for lymphoma

Radiotherapy:

• Prior radiotherapy to no more than 1 site allowed
• At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics
• Lymph node biopsy performed within past month