Phase I/II Trial of Arsenic Trioxide (As2O3) With Ascorbic Acid in the Treatment of Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

Inclusion Criteria

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