Intensity Modulated Total Marrow Irradiation, Fludarabine Phosphate, and Melphalan in Treating Patients With Relapsed Hematologic Cancers Undergoing a Second Donor Stem Cell Transplant

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with the following diseases: acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and high risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) undergoing second allogeneic (allo)-stem cell transplant (SCT) using the same donor or different donor for disease relapse; patients with other hematologic malignancies, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), will be at the discretion of the investigators * Karnofsky performance status of 70 or above * Life expectancy is not severely limited by concomitant illness * Adequate cardiac and pulmonary function; patients with decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) =\< 40% or diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) =\< 50% of predicted will be evaluated by cardiology or pulmonary prior to enrollment on this protocol * Serum creatinine =\<1.5 mg/dL or creatinine clearance \> 50 ml/min; some patients with minor deviations may be accepted on protocol after discussion with the principal investigator (PI) * Serum bilirubin =\< 2.0 mg/dl; some patients with minor deviations may be accepted on protocol after discussion with the PI * Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGPT) \< 5 x upper limit of normal; some patients with minor deviations may be accepted on protocol after discussion with the PI * No evidence of chronic active hepatitis or cirrhosis * Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative * Patient is not pregnant * Patient or guardian able to sign informed consent * DONOR: Since these patients already had first allo-SCT; …