Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed progressive multiple myeloma, meeting 1 of the following
criteria:

- Previously untreated

- Primary refractory

- Relapsing disease

- Major criteria:

- Plasmacytomas on tissue biopsy

- Bone marrow plasmacytosis with greater than 30% plasma cells

- Monoclonal globulin spike on serum electrophoresis

- Greater than 3.5 g/dL for G peaks or greater than 2.0 g for A peaks

- Greater than 1.0 g/24 hours of kappa or lambda light chain excretion on
urine electrophoresis in the absence of amyloidosis

- Minor criteria:

- 10%-30% bone marrow plasmacytosis (criterion A)

- Presence of monoclonal globulin spike but less than the levels under major
criteria (criterion B)

- Lytic bone lesions (criterion C)

- IgM less than 50 mg/dL, IgA less than 100 mg/dL, or IgG less than 600 mg/dL
(criterion D)

- Must meet one of the following:

- A minimum of 1 major criterion and 1 minor criterion

- 3 minor criteria, including criteria A and B

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- Not specified

Performance status:

- ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

- At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic:

- WBC greater than 3,000/mm^3

- Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm^3

- Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm^3

- Hemoglobin greater than 9 g/dL (transfusions allowed)

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dL

- AST/ALT less than 2 times normal

Renal:

- Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL OR

- Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min

- Calcium less than 14 mg/dL

Pulmonary:

- No prior or concurrent active, symptomatic respiratory disease

- Corrected DLCO at least 60% predicted

Other:

- Controlled diabetes mellitus allowed

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 months after study
participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- Not specified

Chemotherapy:

- No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen containing an alkylating agent for multiple
myeloma

- At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

- Prior corticosteroids for multiple myeloma allowed

Radiotherapy:

- No prior pelvic radiotherapy or radiotherapy to more than 25% of bone marrow

Surgery:

- Not specified