N2004-04: Fenretinide LXS in Treating Patients With Recurrent, Refractory, or Persistent Neuroblastoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of neuroblastoma either by histology and/or demonstration of tumor cells in the bone marrow with increased urinary catecholamines * High-risk disease, as evidenced by ≥ 1 of the following: * Recurrent/progressive disease at any time * Refractory disease (i.e., less than a partial response to frontline therapy) * No biopsy required * Persistent disease after at least a partial response to frontline therapy (i.e., patient has had at least a partial response to frontline therapy but still has residual disease by MIBG scan, CT scan/MRI, or bone marrow) * Biopsy of at least one residual site demonstrating viable neuroblastoma required * Patients must have ≥ 1 of the following sites of disease: * Measurable tumor, defined as ≥ 2 cm in at least 1 dimension by MRI, CT scan, or x-ray OR ≥ 1 cm in at least 1 dimension by spiral CT scan * For persistent disease, a biopsy of bone and/or soft tissue site seen on CT/MRI must have been done to demonstrate viable neuroblastoma * If lesion was irradiated, biopsy must be done ≥ 2 weeks after radiation completed * MIBG scan with positive uptake at ≥ 1 site * For persistent disease, a biopsy of an MIBG-positive site must have been done to demonstrate viable neuroblastoma * If lesion was irradiated, biopsy must be done at least 2 weeks after radiation completed * Tumor cells on routine morphology (not by neuron-specific enolase staining only) of bilateral bone m…