DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic or accelerated phase Ineligible for allograft protocols or no available HLA-matched sibling marrow donor No patients under age 55 who have consented to unrelated donor search unless: Search unsuccessful for 6 months and unlikely a donor will be found Transplant from an unrelated donor declined No history of CML blast crisis No grade III/IV myelofibrosis