DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

          -  Histologically confirmed diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma

               -  International Prognostic Index (IPI) score high-intermediate (score = 3) OR high
                  (score = 4 or 5), defined as:

                    -  Stage III or IV disease

                    -  Raised lactic dehydrogenase and poor performance status (WHO performance
                       status 2-4)

               -  All morphological variants included

               -  B-cell nature of the proliferation must be verified by a positive anti-CD20
                  antibody (i.e., CD20-positive disease)

          -  No T-cell lymphoma

          -  No history of treated or non-treated indolent lymphoma

               -  Patients newly diagnosed who have large B-cell lymphoma with some small cell
                  infiltration in the bone marrow or lymph node may be allowed

        PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

          -  See Disease Characteristics

          -  Life expectancy > 3 months

          -  ANC > 1,500/mm^3*

          -  Platelet count > 100,000/mm^3*

          -  Serum creatinine < 150 μmol/L*

          -  Serum bilirubin < 35 μmol/L*

          -  AST and/or ALT < 2.5 times upper limit of normal* NOTE: *Unless attributed to bone
             marrow infiltration by lymphoma.

          -  Fertile patients must use effective contraception

          -  Normal MUGA or echocardiogram without areas of abnormal contractility

          -  LVEF ≥ 50% and only tested if patient meets 1 of the following criteria:

               -  History of diabetes

               -  Prior cardiac disease, hypertension, or abnormal resting ECG

          -  No history of heart failure or uncontrolled angina pectoris

          -  No cardiac contraindication to doxorubicin hydrochloride (e.g., abnormal contractility
             on echocardiography or MUGA)

          -  No neurological contraindication to vincristine sulfate (e.g., pre-existing diabetic
             neuropathy)

          -  No concurrent uncontrolled medical condition

          -  No other serious active disease

          -  No general status that, according to the investigator, does not allow the
             administration of 2 courses of CODOX-M/IVAC

          -  No active malignant disease within the past 10 years except curatively treated basal
             or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix

          -  No positive serology for HIV or hepatitis B or C

          -  No medical or psychiatric conditions that compromise the patient's ability to give
             informed consent

        PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

          -  See Disease Characteristics

          -  No prior chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or other investigational drug for diffuse large
             B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma