Donor Lymphocytes to Prevent Graft-Versus-Host Disease in Patients With Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in first chronic phase or with cytogenetic but not hematologic evidence of acceleration (clonal evolution) Availability of 6 antigen (A, B, and DR loci) HLA identical sibling donor Eligible for randomization to donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) if: Residual Ph+ cells by cytogenetics or FISH or hematologic or clinical evidence of CML AND No graft versus host disease requiring immunosuppressive therapy within the past 2 weeks AND Evidence of donor hematopoiesis after completion of transplantation Ineligible for randomization to DLI if: Blast transformation of CML OR Prior interferon alfa for relapse after completion of transplantation

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 50 to 70 Performance status: Zubrod 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: See Disease Characteristics Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 3 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine less than 2 mg/dL Cardiovascular: Cardiac ejection fraction greater than 40% Pulmonary: DLCO greater than 45% predicted Other: No active infection Not pregnant Negative pregnancy test No hypersensitivity to nickel No hypersensitivity to mouse proteins Human antimouse antibody positivity allowed if no allergic history HIV negative HTLV antibody negative

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: See Disease Characteristics No concurrent hematopoietic growth factors other than filgrastim (G-CSF) No other biologic therapy (e.g., interferon alfa) for 6 months after completion of study therapy Chemotherapy: No other chemotherapy for 6 months after completion of study therapy Concurrent hydroxyurea allowed for CML relapse Endocrine therapy: Concurrent methylprednisolone allowed if grade II or worse GVHD develops Radiotherapy: No radiotherapy for 6 months after completion of study therapy Surgery: Not specified