Basiliximab #2: In-Vivo Activated T-Cell Depletion to Prevent Graft-Versus_Host Disease (GVHD) After Nonmyeloablative Allotransplantation for the Treatment of Blood Cancer

This study is for patients with a blood condition or myelodysplasia (bone marrow disease) which has either not responded to treatment or is not treatable by conventional/routine medical treatments. Bone marrow transplantation is a medical treatment that involves giving high doses of chemotherapy followed by the transplantation of the blood-forming and immune cells from a relative or from a "matched" unrelated person through the National Marrow Donor Program, in an attempt to cure disease in the recipient (the person receiving the donated cells). Nonmyeloablative (bone-marrow preservation) bone marrow transplantation is a relatively new technique in which lower than usual doses of chemotherapy are given before transplantation, in hopes of reducing adverse side effects of the chemotherapy in transplant patients. Nonmyeloablative bone marrow transplantation has several advantages which doctors have determined are beneficial for this condition. This research is being done because the complication of graft-versus-host disease can be bad for a person and there is no completely safe and effective way to prevent this complication. We know that cyclosporine helps but would like to know if the addition of basiliximab, given with cyclosporine, will decrease the incidence and/or severity of graft-versus-host disease after a transplant known as nonmyeloablative or "mini" transplant.