S9805, High-Dose Melphalan Plus Peripheral Stem Cell Transplantation Followed by Interferon Alfa in Treating Patients With Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Immunologically diagnosed Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM) Evaluable quantifiable IgM One of the following criteria must be met: 1) Patient demonstrates clinical symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, visual inacuity, or hemorrhagic manifestations of WM with anemia, hyperviscosity, thrombocytopenia, or coagulopathies 2) Advanced tumor mass present involving ONE of the following: Extensive lymphadenopathy (greater than 2 cm) Hepato or splenomegaly palpable on clinical examination Marked bone marrow infiltration greater than 50% 3) Progressive disease; i.e., increase in IgM concentration by at least 50%, and/or a drop of greater than 2 g/dL in hemoglobin (in the absence of gastrointestinal bleeding), and/or a greater than 50,000/mm3 decrease in platelets PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Under 70 Performance status: SWOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: See Disease Characteristics Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Not specified Cardiovascular: At least 6 months since myocardial infarction No congestive heart failure No arrhythmia refractory to therapy Ejection fraction within normal range by MUGA or ECHO Pulmonary: FEV1 at least 50% of predicted DLCO at least 50% of predicted Other: Not pregnant or nursing Effective contraception required of fertile patients No significant comorbid condition No uncontrolled life-threatening infection No uncontrolled diabetes No other malignancy within past 5 years except adequately treated basal or squamous …