Fenretinide in Treating Children With Solid Tumors

Inclusion Criteria

• •DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Histologically confirmed malignant solid tumor that is refractory to conventional therapy or recurrent neuroblastoma treated with myeloablative therapy and autologous stem cell transplant in second complete or partial response
• •Bone marrow metastases with granulocytopenia, anemia, and/or thrombocytopenia are eligible
• •PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Age: Under 21 at diagnosis
• •Performance status: CCG 0-2
• •Life expectancy: At least 2 months
• •Absolute neutrophil count at least 750/mm3
• •Platelet count at least 50,000/mm3
• •Hemoglobin at least 7.0 g/dL
• •Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• •SGOT and SGPT less than 2.5 times normal
• •Creatinine no greater than 1.5 g/dL OR creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min OR radioisotope GFR at least 50 mL/min
• •Seizure disorders controlled with anticonvulsants allowed
• •No CNS toxicity greater than grade 2
• •Not pregnant
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• •PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• •At least 1 month since prior autologous stem cell transplantation
• •No prior allogeneic transplantation
• •At least 2 weeks since prior chemotherapy (4 weeks for nitrosourea) and recovered
• •No other concurrent chemotherapy
• •No concurrent immunomodulating agents (including steroids)
• •Concurrent corticosteroid therapy for increased intracranial pressure allowed
• •Concurrent dexamethasone for CNS tumor allowed
• •At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• •Concurrent radiotherapy to localized lesions allowed
• •At least 2 weeks since prior retinoids Prior isotretinoin or 9-cis-retinoic acid allowed