DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Inclusion criteria:

• Diagnosis of relapsed multiple myeloma

• Measurable disease as defined by at least one of the following:

  • Serum monoclonal protein ≥ 1.0 g by protein electrophoresis
  • Urine monoclonal protein > 200 mg by 24-hour electrophoresis
  • Serum immunoglobulin free light chain ≥ 10 mg/dL AND abnormal serum immunoglobulin kappa to lambda free light chain ratio
  • Monoclonal bone marrow plasmacytosis ≥ 30% (evaluable disease)
• Not a candidate for stem cell transplantation OR have undergone prior stem cell collection

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Inclusion criteria:

• ECOG performance status 0-2
• Life expectancy ≥ 3 months
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,000/mcL
• Platelets ≥ 75,000/mcL
• Hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL
• Total serum bilirubin normal
• AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 x upper limit of normal
• Creatinine < 2.5 mg/dL
• Negative pregnancy test for women of childbearing potential

Exclusion criteria:

• Pregnant or nursing women
• History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to sunitinib malate
• History of serious ventricular arrhythmia (e.g., ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation ≥ 3 beats in a row) or QTc prolongation (e.g., QTc interval ≥ 500 msec)
• Poorly controlled hypertension (e.g., systolic BP ≥ 140 mm Hg OR diastolic BP ≥ 90 mm Hg)
• Any condition that impairs the ability to swallow and retain sunitinib malate tablets (e.g., gastrointestinal tract disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication or a requirement for IV alimentation, prior surgical procedures affecting absorption, or active peptic ulcer disease)

• Any other condition, including the following:

  • Serious or nonhealing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture
  • History of abdominal fistula, gastrointestinal perforation, or intraabdominal abscess within the past 28 days
  • History of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or transient ischemic attack within the past 12 months
  • History of myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmia, stable/unstable angina, symptomatic congestive heart failure, or coronary/peripheral artery bypass graft or stenting within the past 12 months
  • History of pulmonary embolism within the past 12 months

  • NYHA class III or IV heart failure

    • Patients with NYHA class II heart failure on baseline ECHO or MUGA are eligible provided they are asymptomatic on treatment
• Patients with a preexisting thyroid abnormality who are unable to maintain thyroid function in the normal range with medication
• Other active malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix or breast
• Concurrent uncontrolled illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infections or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Inclusion criteria:

• No more than 4 prior therapies

  • Stem cell transplantation and preceding induction therapy will be considered 1 therapy
• Prior anthracycline exposure or central thoracic radiotherapy that included the heart in the radiotherapy port allowed provided patient has a NYHA class II or better cardiac function on baseline ECHO or MUGA
• Concurrent bisphosphonates allowed

Exclusion criteria:

• Patients who have not recovered from adverse events of prior therapy
• Chemotherapy or radiotherapy ≤ 4 weeks (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) prior to study entry
• Any major surgery ≤ 4 weeks prior to study entry
• Nonmyelosuppressive agents (i.e., thalidomide or high-dose corticosteroids) ≤ 2 weeks prior to study entry

• At least 7 days since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inhibitors, including the following:

  • Azole antifungals (ketoconazole, itraconazole)
  • Verapamil
  • Clarithromycin
  • HIV protease inhibitors (indinavir, saquinavir, ritonavir, atazanavir, nelfinavir)
  • Erythromycin
  • Delavirdine
  • Diltiazem

• At least 12 days since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inducers, including the following:

  • Rifampin
  • Phenytoin
  • Rifabutin
  • Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort)
  • Carbamazepine
  • Efavirenz
  • Phenobarbital
  • Tipranavir
• Any other prior antiangiogenic agents (e.g., bevacizumab, sorafenib, pazopanib, cediranib, vatalanib, or aflibercept)

• Concurrent high-dose corticosteroids

  • Concurrent chronic steroids (up to 20 mg/day prednisone equivalent) allowed for disorders other than amyloid (i.e., adrenal insufficiency or rheumatoid arthritis)

• Concurrent therapeutic doses of coumarin-derivative anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin)

  • Up to 2 mg/day of coumarin-derivative anticoagulants allowed for prophylaxis of thrombosis
  • Low molecular weight heparin allowed provided PT INR ≤ 1.5
• Concurrent agents with proarrhythmic potential (e.g., terfenadine, quinidine, procainamide, disopyramide, sotalol, probucol, bepridil, haloperidol, risperidone, indapamide, or flecainide)
• Concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
• Any other concurrent investigational agents or anticancer therapy