Arsenic Trioxide Plus Vitamin C in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Multiple Myeloma

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed multiple myeloma
• * M-protein by serum protein electrophoresis or urine protein electrophoresis
• * Quantitative determination of immunoglobulin
• * Bone marrow biopsy and aspirate with a plasma cell count greater than 10%
• * Refractory or chemoresistant disease defined as failure to respond (less than 50% reduction in M protein level) or progression within 2 months after receiving at least 2 chemotherapy regimens including:
• * Alkylating based regimen (melphalan) in combination with steroids (prednisone) or other chemotherapy regimens (e.g., vincristine, bleomycin, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, and prednisone or vincristine, carmustine, doxorubicin, and prednisone)
• * Vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone (VAD) regimen
• * Pulse therapy with high dose steroids alone
• * High dose alkylating agent and autologous stem cell transplantation
• * Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation
• * Plateau phase defined as M protein in the serum or urine for more than 6 weeks despite response to prior therapy
• * Must have received at least 2 of the chemotherapy regimens listed above or equivalent regimens
• * Recurrent disease defined as progression more than 2 months after initial therapy and failure to respond (less than 50% reduction or progression in M protein levels) to 1 chemotherapy regimen listed above or other salvage regimens (e.g., high-dose cyclophosphamide or topotecan)
• * Must have received VAD or other equivalent chemotherapy regimen
• * Should be considered for autologous or allogenic transplantation
• * Prior local radiotherapy allowed
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• Over 18
• Performance status:
• Karnofsky 60-100%
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• WBC at least 2,000/mm\^3\*
• Platelet count at least 50,000/mm\^3\* NOTE: \*Unless attributable to bone marrow infiltration by multiple myeloma
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin less than 3 mg/dL
• Transaminases less than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Renal:
• Creatinine less than 1.5 times ULN OR
• Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min
• Cardiovascular:
• No cardiac arrhythmias including recurrent supraventricular arrhythmia, any type of sustained ventricular arrhythmia, or conduction block (atrioventricular block grade II or III, left bundle branch block)
• Ejection fraction at least 30%
• No uncontrolled ischemic heart disease
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for 4 months after study
• HIV negative
• No grade 3 or higher neurological disorder, including seizure disorders
• No underlying medical condition that would preclude study
• No other active malignancy except adequately treated basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Chemotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 2 weeks since prior chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Concurrent steroid treatment allowed except for primary treatment of myeloma
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Concurrent local radiotherapy for pain or symptom control allowed provided the pain or symptom is not related to disease progression
• Surgery:
• Not specified
• Other:
• No other concurrent ascorbic acid supplements
• No other concurrent investigational drug or therapy
• Concurrent bisphosphonates allowed