Cisplatin and Ifosfamide Combined With Either Paclitaxel or Vinblastine in Treating Men With Progressive or Recurrent Metastatic Germ Cell Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed germ cell tumor (GCT), including 1 of the following primary tumor sites: * Seminoma * Testis * Retroperitoneum * Mediastinum * Other extragonadal site * Nonseminoma * Testis * Retroperitoneum * Other extragonadal site * No tumor of the mediastinum * Must have evidence of metastatic disease, including either of the following: * Unidimensionally measurable lesions * At least 20 mm by conventional techniques (e.g., physical exam for clinically palpable lymph nodes and superficial skin lesions or chest x-ray for clearly defined lung lesions surrounded by aerated lung) OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan or MRI * Nonmeasurable lesions, including the following: * Small lesions * Bone lesions * Pleural or pericardial effusions * Ascites * Irradiated lesions, unless progression is documented after radiotherapy * Progressive or recurrent disease meeting at least 1 of the following criteria: * Measurable progressive disease * Biopsy-proven residual disease * Persistently elevated or rising ß-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) titers with no other clear cause for elevation * Previously treated with 1 and only 1 regimen comprising etoposide and cisplatin with or without bleomycin AND exhibits clinical resistance by at least 1 of the following conditions after therapy\*: * Progressive GCT after a partial response to first-line t…