DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of high-risk neuroblastoma confirmed by histology and/or tumor cells in bone marrow with elevated urinary catecholamine metabolites

• Meets 1 of the following response status criteria:

  • Current or previous progressive disease
  • Mixed or no response following completion of minimum of 4 courses of induction therapy

• Meets 1 of the following criteria:

  • Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan
  • Metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scan with uptake at a minimum of one site

  • Bone marrow disease documented by standard morphology of bilateral bone marrow aspirate and biopsy specimens

    • Documentation by positive immunocytology is not sufficient
  • Biopsy of a lesion seen on bone scan that is non-avid for MIBG and that demonstrates viable neuroblastoma

• Meets 1 of the following criteria for harvested autologous stem cells:

  • Availability of at least 1.5 x 10^6 CD34-positive unpurged autologous peripheral blood stem cells per kg of body weight*

  • Availability of at least 1.0 x 10^6 viable CD34-positive purged autologous peripheral blood stem cells per kg of body weight*

    • A backup source of stem cells is required if there are < 1.5 x 10^6 CD34-positive viable cells/kg available for infusion
  • Availability of at least 1 x 10^8 purged autologous mononuclear bone marrow cells per kg of body weight* NOTE: *Product to be infused must have 0 tumor cells by immunocytology
• No history of intraparenchymal brain lesion
• No concurrent intraparenchymal brain lesion or meningeal/parameningeal soft tissue mass extending directly into the cranial cavity by CT, MRI, or metaiodobenzylguanidine scan

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• Over 9 months to 30 years

Performance status:

• ECOG or Zubrod 0-1

Life expectancy:

• At least 2 months

Hematopoietic:

• Absolute neutrophil count at least 500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 20,000/mm^3 (transfusion allowed)
• Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL (transfusion allowed)

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin normal
• AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times normal
• No active hepatitis if HIV positive

Renal:

• Glomerular filtration rate or creatinine clearance ≥ 100 mL/min
• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times normal

Cardiovascular:

• Ejection fraction at least 55% by echocardiogram or MUGA scan OR
• Fractional shortening at least 30% by echocardiogram

Pulmonary:

• No dyspnea at rest or exercise intolerance
• No active pneumonia if HIV positive

Neurologic:

• No grade 1 or greater neurological function abnormality except grade 1 irritability, headache, dizziness, insomnia, or somnolence (if due to narcotic analgesics)
• No history of seizures

Other:

• No other active health problems if HIV positive
• No concurrent neoplastic or nonneoplastic disease of any major organ system that would preclude study participation
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 weeks since prior biologic therapy and recovered

Chemotherapy:

• At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosoureas) and recovered
• No other concurrent anticancer chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• Recovered from prior radiotherapy
• Prior diagnostic radiotherapy allowed
• More than 6 months since prior radiotherapy to mantle and Y ports
• More than 3 months since prior therapeutic metaiodobenzylguanidine (^131I-MIBG) and no more than 20 mCl/kg total dose received
• At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy to all other sites

• More than 6 months since prior radiotherapy to kidneys, liver, heart, skull, or face

  • No more than 25% of the liver can have received > 1800 cGy
  • No more than 20% of one of the kidneys can have received > 1200 cGy
  • No more than a 10 cc volume of the brain can have received > 1000 cGy
• No prior total body irradiation
• No prior total cranial or craniospinal radiotherapy
• No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

• Not specified

Other:

• Recovered from any prior therapy
• At least 7 days since prior antibiotics, antifungals, or antivirals
• No acetaminophen or cephalosporin antibiotics for at least 7 days before, during, and until at least 2 weeks after buthionine sulfoximine infusion
• No prophylactic antimicrobials (i.e., nystatin or sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim) for at least 7 days before, during, and until at least 7 days after buthionine sulfoximine infusion
• No concurrent antiretroviral medications for HIV-positive patients