PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 to 70 Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: See Disease Characteristics Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2 mg/dL SGPT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal No clinical evidence of amyloidosis involving the liver Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Creatinine clearance at least 30 mL/min No clinical evidence of amyloidosis involving the kidney Cardiovascular: LVEF at least 50% No evidence of amyloidosis on echocardiogram No uncontrolled arrhythmia No symptomatic cardiac disease Pulmonary: FEV1 at least 60% OR FVC at least 60% OR DLCO at least 60% No symptomatic pulmonary disease No clinical evidence of amyloidosis involving the lungs Other: HIV negative No cord compression No other concurrent illness that would preclude survival No clinical evidence of amyloidosis involving the autonomic nervous system or gastrointestinal tract No known allergy to vitamin C Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception