Activated White Blood Cells With ASCT for Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Diagnosis of multiple myeloma

  * Newly diagnosed disease
  * Durie-Salmon stage II or III disease
* Measurable disease, defined by any of the following:

  * Measurable serum and/or urine M-protein levels documented and available prior to induction therapy
  * Positive serum free light chain assay
* Must have completed a minimum of 3 courses of myeloma specific therapy
* Candidate for autologous stem cell transplantation
* Patients who have achieved a complete remission at the time of bone marrow harvest for marrow infiltrating lymphocytes (MILs) expansion are not eligible
* No evidence of spinal cord compression
* Diagnosis of the following cancers are not allowed:

  * POEMS syndrome (plasma cell dyscrasia with polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal protein and skin changes)
  * Non-secretory myeloma (no measurable protein on serum free light chain assay)
  * Plasma cell leukemia
* No amyloidosis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* ECOG performance status 0-2
* Life expectancy ≥ 6 months
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and up to day 180
* Corrected serum calcium \< 11 mg/dL and no evidence of symptomatic hypercalcemia
* Total bilirubin ≤ 2.0 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* ALT ≤ 2.0 times ULN
* Serum creatinine \< 2.0 mg/dL
* No history of other malignancy within the past 5 years, except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer
* No history of autoimmune disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus) requiring systemic treatment

  * Hypothyroidism without evidence of Graves' disease or Hashimoto thyroiditis is allowed
* No infection requiring treatment with antibiotics, antifungal, or antiviral agents within the past 7 days
* No HIV infection
* No major organ system dysfunction including, but not limited to, the following:

  * New York Heart Association class III or IV congestive heart failure
  * Pulmonary disease requiring the use of inhaled steroids or bronchodilators
  * Renal, hepatic, gastrointestinal, neurologic, or psychiatric dysfunction that would impair ability to participate in the study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* No prior hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
* At least 3 weeks since prior corticosteroids (i.e., glucocorticoids)
* At least 3 weeks since prior myeloma-specific therapy
* At least 4 weeks since participation in any clinical trial that involved an investigational drug or device
* No concurrent therapy with any of the following:

  * Corticosteroids (e.g., hydrocortisone, prednisone, prednisolone, dexamethasone \[Decadron\])

    * Inhaled steroids used for treatment of allergic rhinitis or pulmonary disease allowed
  * Thalidomide
  * Interferon
  * Growth factors, interleukins, or other cytokines (except filgrastim \[G-CSF\] as outlined in the protocol, or erythropoietin)
  * Cytotoxic chemotherapy agents (except cyclophosphamide for stem cell mobilization and high-dose melphalan)
  * Immunosuppressive drugs
  * Experimental therapies
  * Radiotherapy