RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage cancer cells. Antiviral therapy may be effective treatment for AIDS-related lymphoma.

PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and antiviral therapy in treating patients who have AIDS-related lymphoma.

OBJECTIVES: I. Assess the response rate of AIDS-related lymphoma to ProMACE-CytaBOM (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, etoposide, prednisone, cytarabine, bleomycin, vincristine, methotrexate). II. Assess the toxic effects of ProMACE-CytaBOM in patients with AIDS-related lymphoma. III. Evaluate whether the incorporation of filgrastim (G-CSF) into the regimen allows treatment with full doses of the myelotoxic agents in these patients. IV. Determine whether intensive CNS treatment with intrathecal cytarabine and whole-brain irradiation prevents meningeal relapse or controls meningeal lymphomatous involvement in these patients.

OUTLINE: Patients are stratified according to participating institution and descriptive factors: histopathology (diffuse large cleaved/noncleaved and immunoblastic lymphomas vs all others), CD4 count (less than 50 vs 50 or more cells/mm3), prior opportunistic infection (yes vs no), performance status (0 and 1 vs 2), concurrent AZT (yes vs no), concurrent protease inhibitors (yes vs no), marrow involvement (yes vs no). Patients receive ProMACE-CytaBOM regimen as follows: Cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and etoposide IV on day 1 Cytarabine, bleomycin, vincristine, and methotrexate IV on day 8 Oral prednisone on days 1-14 Oral leucovorin calcium every 6 hours for 4 doses on day 9 Patients also receive filgrastim (G-CSF) subcutaneously on days 9-20 and oral co-trimoxazole 3 days a week throughout treatment, plus antiretroviral therapy at the discretion of the treating physician. Treatment repeats every 21 days for a maximum of 6 courses. Patients with progressive disease are removed from study after 2 courses. Remaining patients receive an additional 2 treatment courses and are then restaged. Patients without stable or progressive disease receive 2 more courses in the absence of unacceptable toxicity. Patients with positive bone marrow at study entry receive CNS prophylaxis with 5 evenly spaced doses of intrathecal cytarabine during the first 2 treatment courses and on day 1 of each subsequent course. Patients with positive CSF cytology at study entry receive intrathecal cytarabine on days 1-5 of the first treatment course and on day 1 of each subsequent course if CSF negative after 5 daily doses. Patients whose CSF remains positive after 5 days receive 5 evenly spaced doses of intrathecal methotrexate during the second treatment course. Patients with negative bone marrow and CSF cytology at study entry receive 5 evenly spaced doses of intrathecal cytarabine within 1 month of systemic therapy. All patients achieving a complete or partial response following systemic therapy and intrathecal cytarabine receive cranial irradiation to all meningeal surfaces. Patients are followed monthly for 1 year, every 2 months for 1 year, every 3 months for 1 year, then annually thereafter.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 50 patients will be accrued for this study over approximately 2 years.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven intermediate or high grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of one of the following histologies: Follicular, predominantly large cell Diffuse, small cleaved cell Diffuse mixed, small and large cell Diffuse, large cell (cleaved or noncleaved) Immunoblastic, large cell Small noncleaved cell, Burkitt's or non-Burkitt's No lymphoblastic lymphoma Prior diagnosis of AIDS or HIV positivity required Confirmation of HIV antibody status by Western blot mandatory Bidimensionally measurable or evaluable disease No primary CNS lymphoma Concurrent registration on protocol SWOG-8947 (central serum repository) required

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: SWOG 0-2 Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 500/mm3 Platelet count at least 75,000/mm3 Hepatic: AST no greater than 1.5 times normal Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 1.5 times normal LDH no greater than 1.5 times normal PT/PTT normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 times normal Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: No serious abnormalities on EKG No history of severe coronary artery disease No history of cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, or arrhythmia Other: No active uncontrolled infection No active second malignancy within 5 years except adequately treated nonmelanoma skin cancer or adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: No prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy for lymphoma