OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the effects of total marrow irradiation and busulfan followed by allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell or marrow transplantation on the outcomes of treatment related mortality, response, relapse, survival, and event free survival for patients with advanced multiple myeloma.
OUTLINE: Peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) or bone marrow (BM) collection and infusion are performed according to standard practice. Patients undergo total marrow irradiation (TMI) bid for 3 days. Busulfan is administered every 6 hours on days -6 to -3. PBSC or BM is infused on day 0. Interferon alfa is administered subcutaneously on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays beginning on day 80. Interferon therapy may continue in the absence of graft versus host disease or disease progression. Patients are followed on days 56 and 84, then every 6 months for 2 years, and annually thereafter.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A maximum of 30 patients will be accrued over 3 years.