ABT-751 in Treating Young Patients With Refractory Solid Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed solid tumor\*, including, but not limited to, the following: * Rhabdomyosarcoma * Other soft tissue sarcomas * Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors * Osteosarcoma * Neuroblastoma * Wilms' tumor * Hepatic tumors * Germ cell tumors * Primary brain tumors * Brain stem or optic gliomas (histological confirmation may be waived if a biopsy has not been performed) NOTE: \*Closed to accrual for all diagnoses except neuroblastoma as of 4/16/05 * Relapsed after or failed to respond to frontline standard therapy and no other standard treatment options (e.g., surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or any combination of these modalities) exist * Measurable or evaluable disease\* NOTE: \*Not required for patients with neuroblastoma * No CNS tumor with motor or sensory deficits that would obscure the study assessment of sensory neuropathy PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and under Performance status: * Lansky 60-100% (age 10 and under) * Karnofsky 60-100% (age 11 to 18) Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * ALT and AST no greater than 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN for patients treated after the maximum tolerated dose is determined) * No clinically significant hepatic dysfunction Renal: * Creatinine normal for age OR * Creatinine clearance …