Due to study design (and toxicity), this trial closed to accrual prior to opening the phase II portion.

RATIONALE: Sorafenib may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Lenalidomide may stimulate the immune system in different ways and stop cancer cells from growing. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as dexamethasone, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Sorafenib and lenalidomide may also stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking blood flow to the cancer. Giving sorafenib together with lenalidomide and dexamethasone may kill more cancer cells.

PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects and best dose of sorafenib when given together with lenalidomide and dexamethasone and to see how well they work in treating patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• To determine the maximum tolerated dose of sorafenib tosylate and lenalidomide in combination with dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. (phase I)
• To describe the toxicity of this regimen in these patients. (phase I)
• To evaluate the confirmed response in patients treated with this regimen. (phase II)

Secondary

• To correlate clinical effects (adverse events and/or tumor response or activity) with pharmacologic parameters (pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics) and/or biologic results (correlative laboratory). (phase II)
• To assess overall survival and time to disease progression in patients treated with this regimen. (phase II)

OUTLINE: This is a phase I, dose-escalation study of sorafenib tosylate in combination with lenalidomide followed by a phase II study.

Patients receive oral sorafenib tosylate once to twice daily on days 1-28, oral lenalidomide once daily on days 1-21, and oral dexamethasone on days 1, 8, 15, and 22. Treatment repeats every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Patients undergo blood and bone marrow sample collection periodically during study for laboratory correlative studies. Bone marrow plasma samples (i.e., fresh marrow aspirates) are assessed for marrow angiogenesis (microvessel density) by IHC; angiogenic capability (tubular network formation) by in vitro angiogenesis assay; tumor cell proliferation by bromo-2-deoxyuridine uptake; tumor cell apoptosis by three-color flow cytometry (CD38, CD45 or CD138, and 7AAD); and expression of VEGF and soluble VEGF receptors on plasma cells by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Bone marrow biopsies are assessed for various phosphoproteins by IHC; phosphorylation status of ERK1/2 by immunoblotting; and for pharmacodynamic markers (e.g., P70 S6K) by immunoblotting. Blood samples are assessed for surface markers of circulating endothelial cells (CD105, CD34, and CD146) by flow cytometry and for circulating endothelial cell progenitors by late colony formation in mononuclear cells. The endothelial lineage is confirmed by phenotyping of surface markers for endothelial cells.

After completion of study therapy, patients are followed periodically for up to 3 years.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 39 patients will be accrued for phase I and 44 for phase II of this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of multiple myeloma

  • Relapsed or refractory disease requiring treatment

• Measurable disease, as defined by at least 1 of the following:

  • Serum monoclonal protein ≥ 1.0 g
  • More than 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
  • Monoclonal bone marrow plasmacytosis ≥ 30% (i.e., evaluable disease)

• No known standard therapy that is potentially curative for the patient's disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• ECOG performance status 0-2

• Life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks

• ANC ≥ 1,000/μL

• Platelet count ≥ 75,000/μL

• Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL

• Direct bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

• AST ≤ 3 times ULN (≤ 5 times ULN if the liver is involved)

• Creatinine ≤ 2.5 times ULN

• Patients with treated or untreated POEMS (Patient-Oriented Evidence That Matters) allowed, provided they satisfy the criteria for measurable disease

• No other prior malignancy within the past year except currently treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix or breast, or prostate cancer not requiring therapy

• No other active malignancy requiring treatment that would interfere with the assessments of response of the myeloma to protocol treatment

• INR < 1.5 OR PT/PTT ≤ 1.5 times ULN

  • Patients receiving anticoagulation treatment with an agent such as warfarin or heparin are allowed

• Not pregnant or nursing

• Negative pregnancy test

• Fertile patients must use 2 methods of effective contraception for 28 days prior, during, and for 28 days after discontinuation of lenalidomide

• Willing to provide research samples according to the test schedule

• No uncontrolled infection

• No NYHA classification III or IV heart disease

• No unstable angina (i.e., anginal symptoms at rest), new-onset angina (i.e., began within the past 3 months), or myocardial infarction within the past 6 months

• No uncontrolled hypertension, defined as systolic blood pressure > 150 mm Hg or diastolic pressure > 90 mm Hg, despite optimal medical management

• No thrombotic or embolic events within the past 6 months, including cerebrovascular accidents and transient ischemic attacks

• More than 4 weeks since prior pulmonary hemorrhage or other bleeding event > grade 2

• No serious nonhealing wound or ulcer

• More than 4 weeks since prior significant traumatic injury

• No known positivity for HIV infection or infectious hepatitis, type A, B, or C

• No known hypersensitivity to thalidomide or lenalidomide

• No prior development of erythema nodosum if characterized by a desquamating rash while taking thalidomide or similar drugs

• Able to take aspirin (325 mg) daily as prophylactic anticoagulation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• Recovered from prior chemotherapy, regardless of interval since last treatment
• Prior lenalidomide therapy allowed
• More than 4 weeks since prior experimental therapy
• More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery or open biopsy
• No concurrent enrollment in any other study involving a pharmacologic agent or investigative therapy (i.e., drug, biologic, immunotherapy approaches, gene therapy) whether for symptom control or therapeutic intent
• No other concurrent chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, or any ancillary therapy considered investigational
• No concurrent cytochrome P450 enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (i.e., phenytoin, carbamazepine, and phenobarbital), rifampin, or Hypericum perforatum (St. John wort)