Rituximab and Interleukin-2 in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Intermediate- or High-Grade Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Diagnosis of intermediate- or high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma according to the Working Formulation, including the following subtypes: Diffuse large cell lymphoma Diffuse mixed cell lymphoma Immunoblastic large cell lymphoma CD20+ disease Measurable progressive or refractory disease No primary CNS lymphoma or lymphomatous meningitis NOTE: A new classification scheme for adult non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has been adopted by PDQ. The terminology of "indolent" or "aggressive" lymphoma will replace the former terminology of "low", "intermediate", or "high" grade lymphoma. However, this protocol uses the former terminology. PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy Not specified Hematopoietic Lymphocyte count less than 20,000/mm^3 Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,000/mm^3 Platelet count at least 75,000/mm^3 Hemoglobin at least 9.5 g/dL Hepatic SGOT and SGPT no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal Bilirubin normal No liver disease Hepatitis C-seropositive patients are allowed provided they have no active disease, as demonstrated by any of the following: Undetectable hepatitis C viral loads Biopsy showing no active disease Normal transaminases on at least 3 different occasions within the past year Renal Creatinine normal Cardiovascular No clinically significant cardiac dysfunction No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months No heart failure within the past 6 months Pulmonary No clinically significant pulmonary dysfunction Patients with prior radiotherapy to the lung or autologous transplantation must have FEV greater than 50% and DLCO greater than 50% within 8 weeks before study treatment Other Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception HIV negative No significant infections within the past 2 weeks (including pneumonia or bronchitis) No history of autoimmune disease No prior or concurrent malignancy except inactive nonmelanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or other solid tumor curatively treated with no evidence of recurrence within the past 2 years No symptomatic thyroid disease requiring medical intervention other than replacement treatment for hypothyroidism No prior type 1 hypersensitivity or anaphylactic reactions to murine products, rituximab, or radioimmunoconjugated anti-CD20 antibody infusion PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy At least 3 months since prior autologous bone marrow transplantation No prior allogeneic bone marrow transplantation No prior interleukin-2 No prior interferon (alfa, beta, or gamma) No concurrent basiliximab, daclizumab, or monoclonal antibody OKT3 Chemotherapy More than 30 days since prior chemotherapy No concurrent anticancer chemotherapy Endocrine therapy More than 2 weeks since prior systemic steroids No concurrent systemic corticosteroids Radiotherapy More than 30 days since prior radiotherapy No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery More than 30 days since prior major surgery Other More than 30 days since other prior investigational drugs More than 30 days since prior immunosuppressive medications No concurrent immunosuppressive medications including the following: Cyclosporine Mycophenolate mofetil Tacrolimus Sirolimus