Arsenic Trioxide in Treating Patients With Advanced Neuroblastoma or Other Childhood Solid Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed neuroblastoma or other pediatric solid tumor (nonmyeloid and nonlymphoid) including the following: * Ewing's family of tumors/primitive neuroectodermal tumor * Retinoblastoma * Nephroblastoma * Osteosarcoma * Rhabdomyosarcoma * Desmoplastic small round-cell tumor * Hepatoblastoma * Germ cell tumors * Medulloblastoma * Relapsed from or resistant to prior standard anticancer therapy and/or no known standard therapy available * Measurable disease (e.g., solid mass with definable dimensions) OR * Evaluable disease (e.g., bone marrow involvement or malignant pleural effusion) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 40 and under Performance status: * Not specified Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Not specified Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 2.5 times ULN Cardiovascular: * Absolute QT interval no greater than 460 msec in the presence of adequate potassium and magnesium levels Other: * No pre-existing neurotoxicity/neuropathy grade 2 or greater * No pre-existing convulsive disorder * No active serious infections uncontrolled by antibiotics * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * Not specified Chemotherapy: * More than 3 weeks since prior cytotoxic chemotherapy * No other concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy Endocrine therap…