Biological Therapy Plus Monoclonal Antibody Therapy in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed CD20+ B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) * CD20 positive by immunohistochemistry or flow cytometry * Relapsed or refractory disease * Bidimensionally measurable disease * Sole site of measurable disease within a previously irradiated field allowed provided there was disease progression at that site * No pre-existing ascites or pleural effusions * No known CNS involvement by NHL PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: * More than 3 months Hematopoietic: * Neutrophil count at least 1,000/mm3 * Platelet count at least 50,000/mm3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin less than 2 mg/dL * Transaminase less than 2 times upper limit of normal * No hepatitis B or C Renal: * Creatinine less than 2 mg/dL Cardiovascular: * No significant cardiovascular disease * No New York Heart Association class III congestive heart failure * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No unstable angina * No uncontrolled atrial or ventricular cardiac arrhythmias Pulmonary: * No concurrent significant pulmonary disease Other: * HIV negative * No acute infection requiring antibiotics * No fever over 38.2 degrees C within the past 3 days * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell or noninvasive squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix * No pre-existing autoimmune disease or antibody-mediated disease, including: * Systemic lupus erythematosus * Rheumatoid arthritis * Multiple sclerosis * Sjogren's syndrome * Autoimmune thrombocytopenia * Controlled thyroid disease allowed * Concurrent autoantibodies without clinical autoimmune disease allowed * No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar composition to study drugs * No other medical history, including laboratory results, that would preclude study * No suspected or confirmed poor compliance or mental instability that would preclude study * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * No prior allogeneic transplantation * More than 30 days since prior hematopoietic growth factors (e.g., filgrastim (G-CSF) or epoetin alfa) * More than 30 days since prior immunotherapy * More than 90 days since prior monoclonal antibodies as monotherapy for patients who were unresponsive to treatment (30 days for patients who responded to treatment and subsequently relapsed) * No other concurrent biological agents * No concurrent hematopoietic growth factors (e.g., G-CSF or epoetin alfa) Chemotherapy: * More than 30 days since prior chemotherapy * No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * More than 30 days since prior systemic corticosteroids * No concurrent systemic corticosteroids Radiotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * More than 30 days since prior radiotherapy * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: * Not specified Other: * Recovered from prior therapy * At least 6 months since prior coronary angioplasty * More than 30 days since prior immunosuppressants * More than 30 days since prior participation in an investigational drug study * No concurrent immunosuppressants * No concurrent anticoagulants except aspirin at doses no greater than 325 mg/day * No other concurrent anticancer therapy * No other concurrent investigational agents