Temsirolimus and Dexamethasone in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Multiple Myeloma

You may be eligible if

• Pathologically confirmed multiple myeloma
• * Measurable levels of M protein in serum and/or urine
• Recurrent or refractory disease
• * Progressive disease after treatment with ≥ 2 separate chemotherapeutic regimens
• * At least 1 of the regimens must have included high-dose dexamethasone (40 mg on days 1-4, 9-12, and 17-20) or medium-dose dexamethasone (40 mg on days 1, 8, 15, and 22) of a 28-day course
• ECOG performance status (PS) 0-2 OR Karnofsky PS 60-100%
• Life expectancy ≥ 8 weeks
• Absolute neutrophil count \> 1,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count \> 100,000/mm \^3
• Total bilirubin \< 2 mg/dL
• AST and ALT \< 3 times upper limit of normal
• Creatinine \< 2 mg/dL
• Fasting cholesterol \< 350 mg/dL
• Fasting triglycerides \< 400 mg/dL
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to temsirolimus or dexamethasone
• No concurrent uncontrolled illness including, but not limited to, any of the following:
• * Ongoing or active infection
• * Poorly controlled hypertension
• * Diabetes mellitus
• * Symptomatic congestive heart failure
• * Unstable angina pectoris
• * Cardiac arrhythmia
• * Psychiatric illness or social situation that would limit compliance with study requirements
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior cytotoxic therapy
• More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered
• No concurrent anticonvulsive or antiarrhythmic medications
• No concurrent enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (e.g., phenytoin, carbamazepine, or phenobarbital) or other CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers (e.g., rifampin or Hypericum perforatum \[St. John wort\])
• No concurrent prophylactic hematopoietic colony-stimulating factors
• No other concurrent investigational therapy
• No other concurrent anticancer therapy