DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Diagnosis of relapsed malignancy after allogeneic transplantation Rapidly progressive malignancies (acute leukemias) should receive induction chemotherapy or radiotherapy prior to this study Persistent donor cells Must be able to tolerate a taper of steroids to a dosage of no greater than 0.25 mg/kg/day and be off all other immunosuppressive therapy for 2 weeks without significant flare of graft vs host disease (GVHD) No grade II-IV acute GVHD or extensive chronic GVHD Same donor as for prior transplant