Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed recurrent or refractory solid malignant
tumors of childhood including: Soft tissue sarcoma Rhabdomyosarcoma Nonrhabdomyosarcoma
Extraosseous Ewing's sarcoma CNS tumors Astrocytoma Primitive neuroectodermal tumor
Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors Ependymoma Recurrent neuroblastoma Measurable disease No
more than 2 prior treatment regimens

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 21 and under at diagnosis Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life
expectancy: At least 2 months Hematopoietic: For patients with solid tumors (unless marrow
involvement): Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) at least 1000/mm3 Platelet count at least
100,000/mm3 (transfusion independent) Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL (RBC transfusions
allowed) For patients post bone marrow transplantation: ANC at least 1,000/mm3 Platelet
count at least 50,000/mm3 (transfusion independent) Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL (RBC
transfusions allowed) Hepatic: Total bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal SGOT/SGPT
less than 2.5 times normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times normal OR
Creatinine clearance or radioisotope glomerular filtration rate at least 70 mL/min
Neurologic: Seizure disorder allowed if well controlled CNS toxicity no greater than grade
2

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 6 months since prior bone marrow
transplantation No concurrent immunomodulating agents Chemotherapy: At least 2 weeks since
prior chemotherapy (4 weeks for nitrosourea) and recovered No other concurrent
chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: No concurrent corticosteroids except for increased
intracranial pressure due to CNS tumors Radiotherapy: At least 6 months since prior
radiotherapy to craniospinal axis, spine, and/or more than 50% of the bony pelvis
Concurrent radiotherapy to localized painful lesions allowed if at least one measurable
lesion is not in radiation field Surgery: Not specified Other: No concurrent participation
in another CCG, POG, or COG therapeutic study