Pixantrone, Cytarabine, Methylprednisolone, and Cisplatin in Treating Patients With Aggressive Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in First Relapse

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) * Any stage, with or without B symptoms * The following subtypes are eligible: * Diffuse large cell (B and T cell types) * Anaplastic large cell * Diffuse mixed cell * Immunoblastic large cell * Follicular large cell * Transformed follicular NHL * Diffuse aggressive not otherwise classified * Burkitt-like lymphoma * Bone marrow positive or negative * At least 1 measurable lesion * Patients with bone marrow as the only site of disease are eligible without a measurable lesion * No more than 1 episode of progressive disease, occurring after a response (complete response \[CR\], complete response unconfirmed \[CR\_u\], or partial response \[PR\]) to prior chemotherapy\* NOTE: \*Patients with less than a CR, CRu, or PR and no progression, but who are good candidates for high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell support may be eligible (will be decided on an individual basis) * No chemotherapy-refractory disease, defined as follows: * Stable or progressive disease documented at restaging immediately after the completion of induction therapy * No lymphoblastic lymphoma, or mantle cell lymphoma PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * WHO 0-1 Life expectancy * At least 3 months Hematopoietic * Neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3\* * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3\* NOTE: \*Lower values may be accepted if clearly due to bone marrow involvement by lymphoma Hepatic * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)\* * AST or ALT no greater than 2.0 times ULN\* * Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.0 times ULN\* * No history or clinical symptoms of hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus * Patients with seropositivity due to prior vaccination for hepatitis B are eligible NOTE: \*Higher values may be accepted if clearly due to liver involvement by lymphoma Renal * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular * LVEF at least 50% by MUGA * No clinically significant cardiovascular abnormalities * No New York Heart Association grade II-IV cardiovascular disease * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No severe cardiac arrhythmia * No uncontrolled hypertension Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after study participation * HIV negative * No clinically significant neurological abnormalities * No condition that would preclude study safety or interfere with study results * No concurrent serious uncontrolled infection PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Prior rituximab immediately after the first chemotherapy regimen allowed Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * See Biologic therapy * At least 6 months since prior anthracycline therapy (e.g., cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone \[CHOP\]) * More than 2 years since prior fludarabine * More than 2 years since prior nitrosoureas * More than 1 year since prior platinum-based chemotherapy or cytarabine, unless a CR or CR\_u was achieved * No prior cumulative dose of cisplatin greater than 600 mg/m\^2 * No prior single or cumulative dose of doxorubicin greater than 450 mg/m\^2 Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * No prior radiotherapy to the whole pelvis * No prior radioimmunotherapy Surgery * More than 4 weeks since prior major thoracic and/or abdominal surgery * At least 1 week since prior minor surgery Other * Recovered from prior therapy * Alopecia allowed * Grade 1 peripheral neuropathy allowed * More than 30 days since prior participation in another investigational drug study * No other concurrent investigational drugs