DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed low-grade lymphoma including any of the following: REAL classification Follicular lymphoma (grade I or II) Lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma Small lymphocytic lymphoma Marginal B-cell lymphoma MALT lymphoma International Working Formulation Follicular small cleaved cell lymphoma Follicular mixed small and large cell lymphoma Small lymphocytic lymphoma No intermediate or high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) histology No evidence of histologic transformation If previously untreated, large tumor burden including any of the following: Nodal or extranodal mass greater than 7 cm in diameter Involvement of at least 3 nodal sites (each greater than 3 cm in diameter) Systemic symptoms Splenomegaly Ureteral compression Intraabdominal stage II, stage III, or stage IV disease Measurable disease No prior systemic therapy OR No more than 1 prior therapy ( e.g., chemotherapy, immunotherapy, chemotherapy with immunotherapy, or chemotherapy with regional radiotherapy) A new classification scheme for adult non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has been adopted by PDQ. The terminology of "indolent" or "aggressive" lymphoma will replace the former terminology of "low", "intermediate", or "high" grade lymphoma. However, this protocol uses the former terminology.