NMA Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant in Hematologic Cancer/Disorders

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of aplastic anemia * Severe disease * Failed at least 1 course of standard immunosuppressive regimen with cyclosporine and anti-thymocyte globulin OR * Histologically confirmed hematologic malignancy including the following: * Acute leukemia * Any of the following types: * Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with antecedent myelodysplastic syndromes * Secondary AML * AML with high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities * Acute lymphoblastic leukemia with high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities * Resistant or recurrent disease after combination chemotherapy with at least 1 standard regimen OR * In first remission at high risk of relapse * Chronic myelogenous leukemia * Chronic phase meeting at least 1 of the following criteria: * Failed imatinib mesylate * Failed interferon after at least 6 months of treatment with minimum of 21 million units of interferon per week * Unable to tolerate interferon * Accelerated phase (blasts less than 20%) * Myeloproliferative and myelodysplastic syndromes * Myelofibrosis (after splenectomy) * Refractory anemia * Refractory anemia with excess blasts * Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia * Lymphoproliferative disease * Chronic lymphocytic leukemia * Symptomatic disease after first-line chemotherapy * Low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (recurrent or persistent) * Symptomatic disease after first-line chemotherapy * Multiple myeloma * Progressive disease after autologous stem cell transplantation * Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia * Failed 1 standard regimen * Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma meeting the following criteria: * Intermediate or high grade * Controlled and chemosensitive disease * First remission lymphoblastic or small non-cleaved cell lymphoma at high risk of relapse * Hodgkin's lymphoma * Relapsed and chemosensitive disease * Not eligible for standard myeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation * Availability of any of the following donor types: * Related donor matched at 5 or 6 HLA antigens (A, B, DR) * Unrelated donor fully matched by molecular analysis at A, B, DRB1, and DQB1 loci * Single antigen mismatch at C allowed * Cord blood that is 4, 5, or 6 match with recipient HLA antigens (A, B, DR) NOTE: No syngeneic donors permitted * No uncontrolled CNS disease (for hematologic malignancies) 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 * 4 to 75 (if related or unrelated donor peripheral blood or marrow transplantation) * 4 to 60 (if unrelated cord blood transplantation) Performance status * Karnofsky \> 50% Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Not specified Hepatic * Bilirubin less than 3 times normal * Alkaline phosphatase less than 3 times normal * AST/ALT less than 3 times normal * No Child's class B or C liver failure Renal * Creatinine clearance greater than 40 mL/min Cardiovascular * Cardiac ventricular ejection fraction at least 35% by MUGA * No cardiovascular disease Pulmonary * DLCO at least 40% of predicted, corrected for hemoglobin and/or alveolar ventilation Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * HIV antibody negative * No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus * No active serious infection * No other disease that would preclude study therapy * No other concurrent malignancy except non-melanoma skin cancer * No concurrent serious psychiatric illness PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * See Disease Characteristics * patients may have received a prior autologous blood or marrow transplantation (BMT) * At least 6 months since prior allogeneic BMT Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 2 weeks since prior chemotherapy, radiation or surgery Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery * At least 2 weeks since prior surgery