VP and G-CSF With or Without Rituximab in Autologous Peripheral Stem Cell Transplant For NHL

OBJECTIVES: * Determine whether mobilization with etoposide and filgrastim (G-CSF) with or without rituximab influences CD34+ cell yield in patients undergoing autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. * Determine the acute toxicity of rituximab in combination with etoposide and G-CSF for peripheral blood stem cell mobilization in these patients. OUTLINE: This is a randomized study. * Stem cell mobilization: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 mobilization arms. * Arm I: Patients receive rituximab IV over 4 hours on days 1, 8, and 15. Patients also receive etoposide IV over 4 hours on day 15 and filgrastim (G-CSF) subcutaneously (SC) beginning on day 17 and continuing until approximately day 25. Patients then undergo apheresis over 5 days or until an adequate amount of stem cells are collected. After stem cell collection is completed, patients proceed to the preparative regimen. * Arm II: Patients receive etoposide IV over 4 hours on day 1 and G-CSF SC beginning on day 3 and continuing until approximately day 11. Patients then undergo apheresis over 5 days or until an adequate amount of stem cells are collected. After stem cell collection is completed, patients proceed to the preparative regimen. * Preparative regimen: Patients receive oral busulfan once daily on days -8 to -4, etoposide IV over 4 hours on day -4, and cyclophosphamide IV over 2 hours on days -3 and -2. * Autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT): Patients undergo autologous PBSCT on day 0. Beginning on day 5, patients receive G-CSF SC or IV once daily until blood counts recover. After completion study treatment, patients are followed periodically for 10 years. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 54 patients will be accrued for this study.