Samarium Sm 153 Lexidronam Pentasodium and Bortezomib in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Diagnosis of multiple myeloma

  * Relapsed or refractory disease
* Measurable or evaluable disease as defined by at least 1 of the following:

  * Serum monoclonal protein ≥ 1.0 g by protein electrophoresis
  * Monoclonal protein ≥ 200 mg by 24-hour urine electrophoresis
  * Serum immunoglobulin free light chain ≥ 10 mg/dL AND abnormal serum immunoglobulin kappa to lambda free light chain ratio
  * Monoclonal bone marrow plasmacytosis ≥ 30% (evaluable disease)
* Previously treated disease

  * No limit to prior therapy provided there is adequate residual organ function
* Must have undergone hematopoietic stem cell collection (for transplant candidates) OR not considered to be a hematopoietic stem cell transplant candidate

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* ECOG performance status (PS) 0-2 (ECOG PS of 3 allowed if secondary only to pain)
* Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL (transfusion allowed)
* ANC ≥ 1,000/mm\^3
* Creatinine ≤ 3 mg/dL
* Calcium ≤ 15 mg/dL
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after completion of study therapy
* No impending long bone fracture
* No other active malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or breast cancer
* No uncontrolled infection
* No known hypersensitivity to any of the components of study drugs
* No other co-morbidity that would preclude study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* Recovered from prior surgery, radiotherapy, or other antineoplastic therapy
* No prior samarium Sm 153 lexidronam pentasodium or strontium chloride Sr 89
* At least 3 weeks since prior myelosuppressive agents
* At least 2 weeks since prior nonmyelosuppressive agents (e.g., thalidomide)
* At least 2 weeks since prior and no concurrent high-dose corticosteroids

  * Chronic steroids (maximum dose of 20 mg/day prednisone or equivalent) allowed for disorders other than myeloma (i.e., adrenal insufficiency or rheumatoid arthritis)
* At least 30 days since prior and no other concurrent investigational therapy
* No concurrent external beam radiotherapy
* No concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy
* No other concurrent systemic antineoplastic therapy including, but not limited to, any of the following:

  * Immunotherapy
  * Hormonal therapy
  * Monoclonal antibody therapy