DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Patients with hematologic malignancies for whom conventional myeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation is deemed clinically appropriate and who are eligible for conventional myeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation on treatment plans/protocols, including any of the following:

  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma or Hodgkin lymphoma (relapsed or refractory disease)
  • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (received more than one previous treatment regimen)
  • Acute myelogenous or lymphoblastic leukemia (AML/ALL) (high-risk disease, in first complete remission [CR1] or subsequent remission, or primary refractory disease)
  • Chronic myelogenous leukemia in tyrosine-kinase resistant chronic phase, accelerated or blast phase, or primary refractory disease
  • Myelodysplastic syndromes in IPSS (International Prognostic Scoring System) high-intermediate or high-risk groups
  • Other hematologic disorders for which allogeneic stem cell transplantation is appropriate (e.g., myelofibrosis)
• Patients who have relapsed after standard autologous and/or allogeneic bone marrow transplant are eligible

• Must be receiving filgrastim (G-CSF)-mobilized related or unrelated donor allogeneic peripheral blood stem cells

  • Patients receiving hematopoietic stem cells of any other sources such as a marrow graft or umbilical cord blood will not be eligible for this study
• Donor must be HLA-genotypically or phenotypically 6 of 6 antigen matched (at the A, B, DR loci) related or unrelated

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Inclusion criteria:

• Patients with a "currently active" second malignancy other than non-melanoma skin cancers can only be registered if survival from the second malignancy is expected to be more than 1 year
• Ejection fraction ≥ 45% by either radioisotope MUGA scan or ECHO
• Lung DLCO ≥ 50% of predicted with no symptomatic pulmonary disease
• Mini Mental Status Exam Score ≥ 20
• Patients must have an expected life expectancy of at least 3 months

• Patients with symptomatic visceral, blood stream or nervous system opportunistic infection are eligible if the infection has been appropriately treated and controlled

  • Patients with a fungal infection must have had treatment for at least one month and must have proof of regression of the infection prior to enrollment
  • Patients may be on antibiotics at the time of transplant

Exclusion criteria:

• HIV infection
• Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus

• Active congestive heart failure from any cause

  • Previous history of congestive heart failure allowed
• Active angina pectoris
• Oxygen-dependent obstructive pulmonary disease
• Failure to demonstrate adequate compliance with medical therapy and follow-up
• Known history of G6PD deficiency or history of hemolysis indicative of G6PD deficiency

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics