DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histochemically proven primary systemic amyloidosis (AL) No presence of non-AL amyloidosis No amyloid-specific syndrome (e.g., skin purpura or carpal tunnel syndrome) as only evidence of disease No vascular amyloid only in a bone marrow biopsy specimen or in a plasmacytoma Must have symptomatic organ involvement with amyloid (e.g., liver, mild cardiac, renal, or soft tissue involvement, or grade 1 or 2 peripheral neuropathy) Demonstrable M-protein in the serum/urine OR Clonal population of plasma cells in the bone marrow OR Immunohistochemical stain with anti-light chain antisera of amyloid fibrils No clinically overt multiple myeloma (i.e., monoclonal BMPC greater than 20% and at least one of the following: bone lesions, anemia, or hypercalcemia)