Beta Alethine in Treating Patients With Myeloma

Inclusion Criteria

• •DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Histologically proven myeloma
• •* Multiple myeloma
• •* Indolent myeloma with slowly progressive bone pathology
• •* Smoldering myeloma with no bone pathology but a progressive increase in M-protein
• •* Solitary myeloma OR
• •Diagnosis of evolving monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance with increasing M-protein or decreasing hemoglobin level
• •Measurable M-protein or Bence Jones protein
• •Indolent disease not requiring therapy allowed
• •No clinical signs or evidence of active brain involvement or leptomeningeal disease
• •PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Age:
• •18 and over
• •Performance status:
• •Karnofsky 50-100%
• •Life expectancy:
• •At least 4 months
• •Hematopoietic:
• •See Disease Characteristics
• •Neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• •Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• •Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL
• •Hepatic:
• •Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL
• •Transaminases no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal
• •Renal:
• •Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
• •Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min
• •Cardiovascular:
• •No acute changes on electrocardiogram
• •No uncontrolled angina, heart failure, or arrhythmia
• •Other:
• •Adequate nutritional status (total protein at least 60.0 g/L, albumin at least 35 g/L)
• •HIV negative
• •No AIDS
• •No active bacterial infection (e.g., abscess) or with fistula
• •No history of alcoholism, drug addiction, or psychotic disorders that would preclude study
• •No other nonmalignant disease that would preclude study
• •Not pregnant or nursing
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• •PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• •Biologic therapy:
• •At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy or cytokines
• •Chemotherapy:
• •At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas, mitomycin, or high-dose carboplatin)
• •Endocrine therapy:
• •No concurrent corticosteroids
• •Radiotherapy:
• •No prior radiotherapy to greater than 25% of bone marrow
• •Surgery:
• •Recovered from any prior surgery
• •No prior solid organ transplantation
• •Other:
• •No other concurrent investigational agent
• •No concurrent immunosuppressive agents
• •No concurrent anti-inflammatory agents, including aspirin or over-the-counter or prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs