Monoclonal Antibody Therapy and Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Stage II, Stage III, or Stage IV Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma * B-cell phenotype (CD20+) as determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or flow cytometry * Stage II, III, or IV disease * CD22+ tumor by IHC\* NOTE: \*CD22 status may be determined after study enrollment * Measurable disease, defined as at least 1 lesion ≥ 1.5 cm by CT scan or physical exam * No relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma * No history of transformed lymphoma * No CNS lymphoma * CNS symptoms or bone marrow or sinus involvement must have absence of CNS lymphoma confirmed by lumbar puncture PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 0-3 \- For patients with ECOG PS 3, the PS must be disease related * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Total bilirubin ≤ 2 mg/dL (if total bilirubin \> 2 mg/dL, direct bilirubin should be within normal limits) * AST ≤ 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN if there is liver involvement) * Creatinine ≤ 2 times ULN * Life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks * Negative pregnancy test * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 12 months after completion of study treatment * No active serious infection requiring antibiotics * No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease * No other primary malignancy within the past 5 years, except for squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma of the skin, in situ carcinoma of the cervix, or previously treated prostate cancer with a stable prostate-specific antigen * No known HIV positivity * No known hepatitis B or C infection * Ejection fraction ≥ 45% by MUGA or echocardiogram (required if patients has a history of heart disease or is ≥ 50 years old) * Willing to provide blood and tissue samples for mandatory translational research component of study PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * No prior therapy for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, including the following: * Chemotherapy * Immunotherapy * Biologic therapy * Radiotherapy * Prior short course (≤ 14 days) of corticosteroids allowed * Prior splenectomy allowed * No prior pelvic irradiation * No other concurrent investigational agents * No concurrent chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiotherapy * No concurrent enrollment on another treatment study involving a pharmacologic agent (e.g., drugs, biologics, immunotherapy, or gene therapy)