Monoclonal Antibody Therapy in Treating Patients With Advanced or Recurrent Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed CD3+ T-cell lymphoma for which no standard curative therapy exists Peripheral T-cell lymphoma Recurrent and/or progressive disease after at least 1 prior therapy Mycosis fungoides Stage IB/IIA Recurrent and/or progressive disease after at least 2 prior therapies Stage IIB-IVB Recurrent and/or progressive disease after at least 1 prior therapy All other T-cell lymphomas Recurrent and/or progressive disease after at least 1 prior therapy Evaluable disease Any nodal site or mass lesion at least 1.5 cm in longest axis on physical exam or CT scan Skin lesions at least 1 cm in longest axis for cutaneous lymphoma High numbers of circulating T-cells allowed PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Karnofsky 50-100% Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC at least 2,000/mm^3* Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,000/mm^3* Platelet count at least 75,000/mm^3* NOTE: * Unless due to lymphoma Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 times normal* AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal* Hepatitis B and C negative NOTE: * Unless due to lymphoma Renal: Not specified Cardiovascular: No symptomatic congestive heart failure No unstable angina pectoris No cardiac arrhythmia Other: No other uncontrolled illness No ongoing or active infection No other active malignancies except basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix HIV-1 negative Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: See Disease Characteristics Biologic therapy: At least 60 days since prior humanized or chimeric antibody therapy Chemotherapy: At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery: Not specified Other: At least 30 days since prior investigational drugs or therapies