Melphalan and Filgrastim to Stimulate Peripheral Stem Cells in Patients With Multiple Myeloma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of multiple myeloma * Must have received induction therapy within the past 3 months * Chemoresponsive disease * Greater than 50% reduction of monoclonal paraprotein with reduction in marrow plasma cell infiltrate or greater than 50% reduction in marrow plasma cell infiltrate if disease is non-secretory * No symptomatic pleural effusions * Eligible for stem cell transplantation PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * ECOG 0-3 (ECOG 3 allowed only if due to bone disease or neuropathy) Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Platelet count at least 150,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL OR * Creatinine clearance greater than 51 mL/min Cardiovascular: * No symptomatic cardiomyopathy * No medically documented symptomatic cardiac arrhythmias within the past 60 days * No New York Heart Association class III congestive heart failure * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months Other: * No other concurrent medical conditions that would preclude study * No uncontrolled infections * No other active malignancy within the past 5 years except for non-melanoma skin cancer * Not pregnant * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * No prior stem cell mobilization or transplantation Chemotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * No more than 200 mg prior oral melphalan Endocrine therapy: * Not specified Radiotherapy: * No more than 3000 cGy of prior radiotherapy for myeloma Surgery: * Not specified