S9901 Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Peripheral Stem Cell Transplantation in Treating Men With Stage III or Stage IV Hodgkin's Disease

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed stage III or IV Hodgkin's disease with at least 3 of the following characteristics: * Albumin less than 4.0 mg/dL * Hemoglobin less than 10.5 g/dL * Leukocytosis at least 15,000/mm\^3 * Lymphocytopenia less than 600/mm\^3 or less than 8% of total WBC * Male sex * At least 45 years of age * Stage IV disease * Bidimensionally measurable disease * Bilateral or unilateral bone marrow aspiration and biopsy performed within 42 days of study * Negative chest x-ray within 42 days of study OR * Chest x-ray performed within 28 days of study * Negative CT scan of thorax, abdomen, and pelvis within 42 days of study OR * CT scan of thorax, abdomen, and pelvis performed within 28 days of study * No history of lymphoma, myelodyplastic syndrome, or leukemia * No CNS involvement by Hodgkin's disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 15 to 65 Performance status: * Zubrod 0-1 Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * See Disease Characteristics Hepatic: * See Disease Characteristics * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (unless elevation due to liver infiltration by Hodgkin's disease) * Lymphoma-related hepatic dysfunction allowed Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 2.0 times ULN * Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min * Lymphoma-related renal dysfunction allowed Cardiovascular: * No coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, or arrhythmias requiring therapy * Ejection fraction normal * No significant EKG abnormalities suggesting active cardiac disease Pulmonary: * Corrected DLCO at least 60% OR * FEV1 at least 60% predicted Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No HIV or AIDS * No other prior malignancy within past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer * No active bacterial, fungal, or viral infection\* * Afebrile for 3 consecutive days\* NOTE: \*Prior to randomization portion of study PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * Not specified Chemotherapy: * No prior chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease except single course of ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine) within 35 days of study Endocrine therapy: * Not specified Radiotherapy: * No prior radiotherapy for Hodgkin's disease Surgery: * Not specified Other: * At least 3 days since prior antibiotics, antifungals, or antivirals (except for prophylactic therapy or fever associated with underlying lymphoma) (for randomization portion of study)