• percent of patients achieving complete response (CR) to the total therapy [ Time Frame: Day +100, 6 months and 1 year post transplant ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  

• A second major outcome will be disease-free survival. Disease-free survival will be estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. [ Time Frame: 36 months without relapse or disease progression ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  

Procedure: Stem Cell Transplant
As part of the stem cell transplant process, patients receive high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation to treat their underlying disease, such as cancer. As one of its effects, this treatment also kills the healthy stem cells that are already in the marrow. The transplant provides new stem cells for the patient from a healthy donor; that replace the bone marrow and allow the blood counts to recover.
Drug: cyclophosphamide, melphalan
Cyclophosphamide: This treatment can produce nausea, vomiting, or intestinal upset, mouth sores, hair loss, infertility and lowering of blood counts leading to vulnerability to infections or bleeding and to possible need for blood transfusions. Rarely patients get bladder problems with pain or bleeding during urination. Melphalan: The most common side effect in patients who have received melphalan has been nausea and vomiting (mild to moderate), loss of appetite (mild), diarrhea and skin rash. Side effects that occur several days or a week later include low blood count, mouth sores, temporary hair loss, fatigue and poor appetite. Mouth sores which sometimes extend into the throat or esophagus can be painful, and some patients may require 7 to 10 days of morphine or a similar medication to control the discomfort. In rare instances, melphalan can cause lung damage or a secondary cancer.

Before starting treatment in this study, the BMT doctor will check the subject's general health. Subjects will have the following tests and evaluations to find out if they can participate:--Medical history and physical examination, including height and weight.--Blood tests (approximately 4 - 5 tablespoons) --Urine tests--Chest x-ray--Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)--Heart Scan (MUGA)--Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)--Bone marrow biopsies and aspirates. --If Female subjects of child-bearing age will have a serum pregnancy test performed. After eligible patients have been completely staged and exercised consent, they will undergo one cycle of chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide and Mesna) and growth factor (G-CSF) to effect cytoreduction and mobilization of PBSC for collection.All patients will receive high-dose melphalan followed by an autologous SCT. Patients will then receive two additional medications (dexamethasone and thalidomide) given by mouth. Blood tests will be performed frequently to evaluate the subject's response to treatment and possible side effects of treatment. If necessary, platelet and red cell transfusions will be given to maintain adequate levels and antibiotics will be given to treat or prevent infection. Subjects may also require intravenous nutritional support and pain medications during or after transplantation. The study coordinators will collect health information over three years. They will collect information every week for 100 days, then at 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years.