OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to histology (aggressive lymphoma [closed to accrual as of 2/7/08 except for diffuse large B cell lymphoma, grade III follicular lymphoma, or transformed lymphoma] vs indolent lymphoma [closed to accrual as of 8/18/08] vs uncommon lymphoma [closed to accrual as of 9/2/08]).