Combination Chemotherapy Plus Peripheral Stem Cell Transplantation in Treating Patients With Relapsed Germ Cell Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Evaluable germ cell cancer (measurable by radiographic study and/or serum tumor marker elevation) and not curable by standard salvage therapy OR viable cancer on resection of post-chemotherapy residual masses in either intermediate or high risk category * Bidimensionally measurable disease with measurements performed within 21 days of study entry * Tumor marker (alpha-fetoprotein, lactate dehydrogenase, beta-human chorionic gonadotropin) studies performed within 7 days prior to study entry PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 16 and over Performance status: * Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 120,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.6 mg/dL * SGOT and SGPT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * No active hepatitis or cirrhosis Renal: * Creatinine clearance at least 70 mL/min Cardiovascular: * Ejection fraction (MUGA or echocardiogram) normal * No EKG evidence of active cardiac disease (arrhythmias, ischemia) which would contraindicate etoposide and paclitaxel study treatment Pulmonary: * PaO\_2 at least 70 mm Hg * FEV\_1 at least 2 L or 75% * No history of bleomycin associated or serious lung disease Neurologic: * No steroid or glucocorticoid treatment for patients with CNS metastatic disease; at least 1 month with stable post-radiotherapy neurological status and seizure fr…