Multiple Myeloma and Plasma Cell Neoplasm

RATIONALE: Gathering information about older patients with cancer may help the study of cancer in the future. PURPOSE: This research study is gathering information from older patients with cancer into a registry.

This is a prospective, multicenter diagnostic imaging study designed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility of BCMA-targeted positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in patients with multiple myeloma and related plasma cell disorders. The study aims to non-invasively visualize and quantify whole-body BCMA expression and to assess its role in the detection of active disease and disease heterogeneity.

RATIONALE: Collecting and storing samples of tissue, blood, and body fluid from patients with cancer to study in the laboratory may help the study of cancer in the future. PURPOSE: This research study is collecting and storing blood and tissue samples from patients being evaluated for hematologic cancer.

RATIONALE: Diagnostic procedures, such as 3'-deoxy-3'-\[18F\] fluorothymidine (FLT) PET imaging, may help find and diagnose cancer. It may also help doctors predict a patient's response to treatment and help plan the best treatment. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying FLT PET imaging in patients with cancer.