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

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