Lenalidomide, Cyclophosphamide, and Dexamethasone in Treating Patients With Primary Systemic Amyloidosis

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histochemical diagnosis of AL amyloidosis based on detection of green birefringent material in Congo red-stained tissue specimens by polarizing microscopy * Measurable disease, as defined by one of the following: * Serum monoclonal protein ≥ 1.0 g by serum electrophoresis * Urine 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 * Symptomatic organ involvement with amyloid to justify therapy * May include liver involvement, cardiac involvement, renal involvement, grade 1 peripheral neuropathy, or soft tissue involvement * Must have more than skin purpura or carpal tunnel syndrome * No amyloid-specific syndrome, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or skin purpura, as only evidence of disease \- Vascular amyloid only in a bone marrow biopsy specimen or in a plasmacytoma is not indicative of systemic amyloidosis * No clinically overt multiple myeloma (i.e., monoclonal BMPC \> 30%, bone lesions, or hypercalcemia) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status 0-2 * ANC ≥ 1,000/μL * Platelet count ≥ 75,000/μL * Creatinine \< 3.0 mg/dL * Not pregnant * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use two acceptable methods of contraception for ≥ 28 days prior to, during, and for ≥ 28 days after completion of study treatment * No nursing during and for ≥ 28 days after completion of study treatment * No blood, semen, or sperm donation during and for ≥ 28 days after completion of study treatment * No malignancies within the past 5 years except treated basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or carcinoma "in situ" of the cervix or breast * No neuropathy ≥ grade 2, defined as motor neuropathy (symptomatic weakness interfering with function, but not interfering with activities of daily living \[ADL\]) or sensory neuropathy (sensory alteration or paresthesia \[including tingling\], interfering with function, but not interfering with ADL) * No uncontrolled infection * No syncope within the past 30 days * No known hypersensitivity to thalidomide, including desquamating rash with thalidomide in the past * No known seropositivity for HIV * No active hepatitis A, B, or C * No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease * No venous thromboembolic event within the past 42 days * Able to take aspirin (81 or 325 mg) daily as prophylactic anticoagulation - Patients intolerant to aspirin may use low molecular weight heparin PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * No prior lenalidomide * More than 2 weeks since prior and no other concurrent anticancer agents or treatments * More than 4 weeks since prior experimental agents * No other concurrent corticosteroids except chronic steroids (maximum dose 20 mg/day of prednisone equivalent) for disorders other than amyloidosis (e.g., adrenal insufficiency or rheumatoid arthritis)