Interferon Alfa-2b Following Chemotherapy and Peripheral Stem Cell Transplantation in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Hodgkin's Disease or Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or Hodgkin's disease Diffuse small cell (i.e., chronic lymphocytic leukemia, small lymphocytic, immunocytoma) Follicular Mantle cell Peripheral T cell Diffuse large B cell Leukemic (i.e., lymphoblastic, Burkitt's) First relapse or first progression after responding to a salvage regimen and high dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation (second remission) Response of greater than 50% of tumor mass decrease observed at time of progression Prior high dose chemotherapy plus autologous stem cell transplantation as first line therapy allowed PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 to 64 Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Transaminase no greater than 3.0 times upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.7 mg/dL Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception No other prior or concurrent malignancies except curatively treated (by radiotherapy or surgery) basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: See Disease Characteristics No other concurrent immunotherapy No concurrent hematopoietic growth factors Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: Not specified