DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed multiple myeloma

• Must meet 1 of the following criteria:

  • Relapsed disease documented
  • Disease refractory to at least one prior treatment regimen (may include autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation)
  • In need of further therapy for myeloma, as determined by the patient's treating physician

• No known CNS involvement

  • Calvarial lytic lesions or plasmacytomas are not exclusion criteria if there is no CNS involvement

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• ECOG performance status 0-2
• Life expectancy ≥ 3 months
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 500/μL
• Hemoglobin ≥ 7 g/dL (with or without transfusion support)
• Platelets ≥ 25,000/μL (with or without transfusion support)
• Total bilirubin ≤ 2 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST/ALT ≤ 2.5 x ULN
• Creatinine ≤ 2 times ULN
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception prior to and during study treatment
• No baseline peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2
• No history of allergic reactions to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to bortezomib or hydroxychloroquine

• No known macular degeneration or retinopathy (diabetic or otherwise), porphyria, or psoriasis

  • Well-controlled psoriasis allowed provided under the care of a specialist who agrees to monitor the patient for exacerbations

• No other conditions that would require therapy with hydroxychloroquine, including but not limited to, any of the following:

  • Systemic lupus
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Porphyria cutanea tarda
  • Malaria treatment or prophylaxis

• No concurrent or prior malignancy except for the following:

  • Basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
  • Treated carcinoma in situ
  • Localized prostate adenocarcinoma (stage T1a or T1b) with a stable PSA for a period of at least 4 months allowed
  • Patients with a prior malignancy treated with chemotherapy, biologic agents, and/or radiation are eligible for this study if they have completed therapy ≥ 4 years previously with no evidence of recurrent disease
  • Patients with a prior malignancy treated with surgery alone are eligible for this study if they have completed therapy ≥ 2 years previously with no evidence of recurrent disease

• No uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, any of the following:

  • Uncontrolled ongoing infection
  • Symptomatic congestive heart failure
  • Unstable angina pectoris
  • Cardiac arrhythmia
  • Psychiatric illness or social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
• No prior dose-limiting toxicity due to bortezomib administration
• No inability to understand or unwillingness to sign the informed consent document

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 7 days since prior corticosteroids
• At least 14 days since prior antimyeloma agents, including thalidomide or lenalidomide
• Concurrent therapy with bisphosphonates allowed at the discretion of the treating physician
• Concurrent hematopoietic growth factors allowed, including filgrastim (G-CSF) or pegfilgrastim, epoetin alpha, and darbepoetin alpha
• Concurrent participation in non-treatment studies allowed, if it will not interfere with participation in this study
• No concurrent radiotherapy except local radiotherapy during the treatment phase of this study for palliation of pain or prevention of fracture
• No concurrent treatment with a different investigational regimen
• No concurrent therapy with other anticancer agents
• No concurrent participation in other investigational trials that involve novel therapies