Fludarabine in Treating Patients With Steroid-Resistant Chronic Graft- Versus-Host Disease

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or clinically proven chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD) that has failed to respond to at least 1 month of treatment with the following: Steroids (greater than 0.5 mg/kg/day) AND Cyclosporine or a cytotoxic agent (azathioprine or mercaptopurine) OR Other experimental treatment (such as chloroquine) All allogeneic bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation patients eligible regardless of underlying disease for which transplantation was performed if: At least 45 days since prior transplantation No relapse of underlying disease No loss of donor hematopoiesis Patients with a rapid deterioration of GVHD that is considered life threatening if not controlled are eligible after receiving high dose steroids (greater than 1 mg/kg/day) for at least 10 days PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Not specified Performance status: Not specified Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,300/mm3 Platelet count at least 75,000/mm3 Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2 mg/dL Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: See Disease Characteristics Chemotherapy: No other concurrent cytotoxic drugs Endocrine therapy: Concurrent steroids allowed but must be tapered to less than 0.5 mg/kg/day of prednisone or equivalent prior to starting study drug (if symptomatic flare develops during taper, patients may continue on the lowest dose thought to produce stabilization) Radiotherapy: Not specified Surgery: Not specified Other: Concurrent cyclosporine and other nonmyelosuppressive drugs allowed No concurrent myelosuppressive agents (azathioprine, mercaptopurine)