SWOG-9321 Melphalan, TBI, and Transplant vs Combo Chemo in Untreated Myeloma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Newly diagnosed, active multiple myeloma of any stage requiring treatment * Smoldering myeloma (Durie-Salmon stage I) must have a 25% or greater increase in M component levels and/or Bence-Jones protein excretion or development of symptoms * Quantifiable M component of IgG, IgA, IgD, IgE, and/or urinary kappa or lambda light chain (Bence-Jones protein) excretion required * Plasmacytosis of at least 30% allowed for non-secretory disease or secretory disease without quantifiable protein * IgM peaks excluded * Evaluation of siblings as potential allogeneic bone marrow transplant donors required for patients 55 years of age and younger (As of 8/1/97, permanently closed) * HLA followed by DR and MLC testing required * Renal failure, even on dialysis, eligible provided: * Cause is attributed to myeloma (Bence-Jones protein or hypercalcemia) * Duration does not exceed 2 months * If medically appropriate, the following conditions should be treated prior to registration: * Pathologic fractures * Pneumonia at diagnosis * Hyperviscosity with shortness of breath PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 70 and under Performance status: * SWOG 0-2 (SWOG 3 or 4 based solely on bone pain allowed) Hematopoietic: * Not specified Hepatic: * Not specified Renal: * See Disease Characteristics Cardiovascular: * Normal ejection fraction by ECHO or MUGA * No myocardial infarction within 6 months * No unstable angina * No difficult to control con…