Samarium Sm 153 Lexidronam Pentasodium Combined With Zoledronic Acid or Pamidronate in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma and Bone Pain

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Diagnosis of multiple myeloma

  * Relapsed or refractory disease, meeting 1 of the following criteria:

    * Recurrent disease after stem cell transplantation
    * Recurrent or progressive disease despite treatment with ≥ 1 standard regimen (e.g., an alkylating agent plus glucocorticoid and/or the combination of vincristine, doxorubicin hydrochloride, and dexamethasone)
* Measurable or evaluable disease, defined by at least 1 of the following:

  * Monoclonal protein ≥ 1.0 g by serum 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)
* Patients must have already undergone hematopoietic stem cell collection, if believed to be a transplant candidate OR not eligible for a hematopoietic stem cell transplant

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* ECOG performance status (PS) 0-2 (ECOG PS 3 allowed if secondary to pain)
* ANC ≥ 1,000/mm\^3
* Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL (transfusions allowed)
* 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 active malignancy except for nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix or breast
* No uncontrolled infection
* No other co-morbidity that would interfere with the patient's ability to participate in this trial
* No known hypersensitivity to any of the components of samarium Sm 153 lexidronam pentasodium or bisphosphonates

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* Recovered from all prior surgery, radiotherapy, or other antineoplastic therapy
* More than 4 weeks since prior melphalan or other myelosuppressive agents
* More than 2 weeks since prior nonmyelosuppressive agents (e.g., thalidomide or high-dose corticosteroids)
* More than 30 days since prior and no other concurrent investigational therapy
* No prior samarium Sm 153 lexidronam pentasodium or strontium chloride Sr 89
* No concurrent external beam radiotherapy
* No concurrent high-dose corticosteroids

  * Concurrent chronic steroids (maximum dose of 20 mg/day prednisone equivalent) allowed for disorders other than myeloma (i.e., adrenal insufficiency or rheumatoid arthritis)
  * Low-dose steroids allowed for replacement or inhalation therapy
* No other concurrent medications, including any of the following:

  * Cytotoxic chemotherapy
  * Systemic antineoplastic therapy including, but not limited to, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy, or monoclonal antibody therapy
  * Prophylactic hematopoietic growth factors

    * Hematopoietic growth factors allowed for established cytopenia therapy