Filgrastim Compared With Sargramostim Plus Chemotherapy, Peripheral Stem Cell Transplantation, and Interferon Alfa in Treating Patients With Multiple Myeloma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed multiple myeloma

  * Complete or partial remission after initial therapy OR
  * Complete or partial response to therapy after disease progression following initial therapy
  * No plasma cell leukemia (greater than 10% circulating plasma cells)
  * No advanced myeloma refractory and unresponsive to at least 2 salvage chemotherapy regimens

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 70 and under

Performance status:

* Age 65-70 years:

  * Karnofsky 80-100%
* Under 65 years:

  * Not specified

Life expectancy:

* Not specified

Hematopoietic:

* Hemoglobin at least 8 g/dL (untransfused)
* WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3
* Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 (untransfused)

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL
* ALT less than 3 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

* Age 65-70 years:

  * Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min (if creatinine at least 1.5 mg/dL)
* Under 65 years:

  * Creatinine less than 2 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

* Age 65-70 years:

  * LVEF at least 45%
* Under 65 years:

  * No active ischemia
  * LVEF greater than 45% by MUGA

Pulmonary:

* Age 65-70 years:

  * If history of smoking or respiratory symptoms, spirometry and DLCO must be greater than 50% of predicted
* Under 65 years:

  * FEV\_1 and FVC greater than 60% predicted
  * DLCO greater than 50% of predicted

Other:

* No active or uncontrolled infection

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* Not specified

Chemotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics

Endocrine therapy:

* Not specified

Radiotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics

Surgery:

* Not specified