DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven hematologic malignancy including, but not limited to, the following: Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or Hodgkin's disease Failed prior front-line therapy No rapidly progressive intermediate or high grade NHL Multiple myeloma Prior chemotherapy required Consolidation of prior autografting allowed Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or acute lymphoblastic leukemia In complete remission (CR) and received prior cytotoxic chemotherapy at some point before transplantation Molecular or early relapse allowed if donor available Persistent or refractory disease considered on a case-by-case basis Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in chronic or accelerated phase Prior autograft after high-dose therapy or prior intensive chemotherapy for either peripheral blood stem cell mobilization or treatment of advanced CML allowed if in complete remission, chronic phase, or accelerated phase Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) All patients with MDS eligible except those with frank AML (more than 30% blasts in bone marrow aspirate) Over age 50: Must meet the 1 of the following criteria: Hematologic disease that is treatable by allogeneic stem cell transplantation (AlloSCT) B-cell malignancies that cannot be cured by autologous SCT (AuSCT) Age 50 and under: Must meet 1 of the following criteria: Hematologic malignancy that is treatable by AlloSCT and, through preexisting medical conditions or prior therapy, is considered at high risk for regimen-related toxicity associated with conventional transplantation Refuse conventional SCT for hematologic malignancy OR Diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma Clear cell, papillary, or medullary subtype Any age Must meet 1 of the following criteria: Disease that is not amenable to surgical cure Metastatic disease by radiological and histological criteria No bulky disease resulting in severely limited performance status (Karnofsky less than 70%) No vertebral instability Availability of a 10 antigen (A, B, C, DR-B, and DR-Q loci) HLA-matched unrelated donor Any active CNS disease 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: See Disease Characteristics Any age Performance status: See Disease Characteristics Karnofsky 50-100% Life expectancy:

For patients with hematologic malignancy: Not specified For patients with renal cell carcinoma: At least 6 months Hematopoietic: See Disease Characteristics Hepatic: Significant elevations in bilirubin, SGOT, and SGPT allowed on a case-by-case basis No synthetic dysfunction or severe cirrhosis Renal: Not specified Cardiovascular: Cardiac ejection fraction at least 30% No cardiac failure requiring therapy No poorly controlled hypertension on multiple antihypertensives Pulmonary: DLCO at least 35% predicted No requirement for supplementary continuous oxygen Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 1 year after study HIV negative

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: See Disease Characteristics