DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of symptomatic multiple myeloma

• Must meet the following criteria at one point in the course of the disease for the original diagnosis of myeloma:

  • Bone marrow plasmacytosis with > 10% plasma cells or sheets of plasma cells or biopsy proven plasmacytoma
  • Must have symptomatic disease that prompted the initiation of therapy (e.g., anemia, hypercalcemia, bone disease, or renal dysfunction)

• Must have completed a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 6 courses of a dexamethasone-based regimen within the past 8 weeks, including any of the following:

  • Dexamethasone alone
  • Vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone
  • Thalidomide and dexamethasone
  • Lenalidomide and dexamethasone
  • Liposomal doxorubicin and dexamethasone
  • The combination of any of the above agents and dexamethasone
  • Cyclophosphamide, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone
• Received a minimum cumulative dose of 160 mg of dexamethasone (no maximum dose specified)
• Must have not experienced progressive disease on the dexamethasone-based regimen
• Patients diagnosed with only smoldering myeloma or monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance are not eligible

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• ECOG performance status 0-2
• Hemoglobin > 7 g/dL
• Platelet count > 75,000/mm^3
• Absolute neutrophil count > 1,000/mm^3 (without the use of growth factors to increase ANC)
• Creatinine < 2.5 mg/dL and creatinine clearance (measured or calculated) ≥ 60 mL/min
• Direct bilirubin < 1.5 mg/dL
• ALT and AST < 2.5 times upper limit of normal
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective double-method contraception for 4 weeks prior to, during, and for 4 weeks after completion of study therapy
• No active uncontrolled seizure disorder
• No seizure within the past 6 months

• No concurrent uncontrolled illness that would limit compliance with the study, including any of the following:

  • Uncontrolled hypertension
  • Symptomatic congestive heart failure
  • Unstable angina
  • Uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia
  • Uncontrolled psychiatric illness or social situation
  • History of Steven Johnson syndrome
• No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2
• No active uncontrolled infection
• Patients with a history of prior malignancy are eligible provided there is no active malignancy AND there is a low expectation of recurrence within 6 months

• Must be willing and able to receive prophylaxis with aspirin (325 mg/day) or alternative prophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin or coumadin

  • Patients with prior DVT are eligible provided they remain on the anticoagulation regimen that was prescribed for treatment of the DVT throughout study therapy

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 14 days since prior palliative and/or localized radiotherapy
• Prior bortezomib allowed
• Concurrent bisphosphonates or growth factors (e.g., granulocyte and/or erythropoietic agents) for multiple myeloma allowed