DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (de novo or secondary, FAB M1, M2 and M4-7) Must be within 6 months of diagnosis Achieved a chemotherapy induced first complete remission (CR) Received 1 or more courses of consolidation chemotherapy OR AML in second or greater CR Patients with a documented first or subsequent CR may proceed to transplantation if: No morphologic diagnosis of AML or myelodysplastic syndrome Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,000/mm3 and platelet count greater than 50,000/mm3 after any consolidation chemotherapy Availability of an HLA identical related peripheral blood stem cell donor No syngeneic donor No active CNS leukemia