Carfilzomib and Dexamethasone in Treating Patients With Multiple Myeloma Who Previously Underwent a Stem Cell Transplant

Inclusion Criteria:

Creatinine =< 3 mg/dL
Absolute neutrophil count >= 1,000/uL
Platelet count >= 75,000/uL
Hemoglobin >= 8.0 g/dL
Previous diagnosis of symptomatic multiple myeloma (MM)
Received single autologous stem cell transplantation 60-120 days prior to registration
Received the autologous SCT =< 12 months of their diagnosis of myeloma to be eligible for the study
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 0, 1 or 2
Recovered from toxicity of previous chemotherapy (excludes grade 1 neurotoxicity and hematological toxicity)
Voluntary written informed consent before performance of any study-related procedure not part of normal medical care, with the understanding that the subject may withdraw consent at any time without prejudice to future medical care
Negative pregnancy test performed =< 7 days prior to registration, for women of childbearing potential only
Willingness to return to one of the enrolling institutions for follow-up (during the active monitoring phase of the study); NOTE: during the active monitoring phase of a study (i.e., active treatment and observation), participants must be willing to return to the consenting institution for follow-up

Measurable disease of multiple myeloma at the time of baseline values for disease assessment as defined by at least one of the following:

Serum monoclonal protein >= 1.0 g/dL
>= 200 mg of monoclonal protein in the urine on 24 hour electrophoresis
Serum immunoglobulin free light chain >= 10 mg/dL AND abnormal serum immunoglobulin kappa to lambda free light chain ratio
NOTE: for patients with no relapse prior to transplant, measurable disease at the time of diagnosis
NOTE: for patients who have had a disease relapse prior to transplant, measurable disease at the time of the most recent relapse immediately prior to transplant; NOTE: if the patient had treatment for the relapsed disease prior to transplant, the patient must have measurable disease at the time of relapse prior to this therapy
Willing to provide bone marrow and blood samples for correlative research purposes

Exclusion Criteria:

Prior allogeneic bone marrow/peripheral blood stem cell transplant
Evidence of disease progression post SCT at the time of consideration for the study enrollment
Myocardial infarction =< 6 months prior to registration
New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV heart failure
Uncontrolled angina
Severe uncontrolled ventricular arrhythmias
Electrocardiographic (ECG) evidence of acute ischemia or active conduction system abnormalities; NOTE: prior to study entry, any ECG abnormality at screening has to be documented by the investigator as not medically relevant
Seroreactivity for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human T-cell lymphotrophic virus (HTLV) I or II, hepatitis B virus (HBV), or hepatitis C virus (HCV)
Other active malignancy requiring therapy; EXCEPTIONS: non-melanotic skin cancer or carcinoma-in-situ of the cervix; NOTE: if there is a history or prior malignancy, they must not be receiving other specific treatment for their cancer
Pregnant women or women of reproductive capability who are unwilling to use effective contraception
Nursing women
Men who are unwilling to use a condom (even if they have undergone a prior vasectomy) while having intercourse with any woman, while taking the drug and for 28 days after stopping treatment
Other co-morbidity, which would interfere with patient's ability to participate in the trial, e.g. uncontrolled infection, uncompensated lung disease
Concurrent chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or any ancillary therapy considered investigational; NOTE: bisphosphonates are considered to be supportive care rather than therapy, and are thus allowed while on protocol treatment
Known allergies to any of the components of the investigational treatment regimen or required ancillary treatments