Tissue, Blood, and Body Fluid Sample Collection From Patients With Hematologic Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of abnormal hematopoietic/lymphoid cancer, including any of the following: * Acute myeloid leukemia * Acute lymphoblastic leukemia * Chronic myelogenous leukemia * Chronic lymphoid leukemia * Non-Hodgkin lymphoma * Hodgkin lymphoma * Myelodysplastic syndromes * Myeloproliferative disorders * Multiple myeloma * Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia * Aplastic anemia * Any other diseases that generate abnormalities in either number, function, or both of any cell type of hematolymphoid lineage * Patients who are being evaluated at the hematology/oncology clinics of the University of North Carolina Hospitals, at the stem cell transplant clinic, or in the hospital PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Not specified PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * Not specified