N2004-03: Intravenous Fenretinide in Treating Young Patients With Recurrent or Resistant Neuroblastoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of neuroblastoma either by histological confirmation and/or demonstration of tumor cells in the bone marrow with increased urinary catecholamines * Differentiating ganglioneuroblastoma allowed * No histological evidence only of ganglioneuroma by tumor biopsy or bone marrow biopsy * High-risk disease meeting at least one of the following criteria: * Recurrent/progressive disease at any time * Refractory disease (i.e., less than a partial response to front-line therapy that included ≥ 4 courses of chemotherapy) * Persistent disease after at least a partial response to front-line therapy (i.e., still has residual disease by MIBG, CT/MRI, or bone marrow biopsy) * Biopsy of at least one residual site demonstrating viable neuroblastoma required (tumor by bone marrow morphology is considered adequate documentation of disease) * Measurable disease meeting at least one of the following criteria: * Measurable tumor on MRI or CT scan, defined as at least one unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques or ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan * For patients with persistent disease, a biopsy\* of bone marrow or bone or soft tissue site must have demonstrated viable neuroblastoma * MIBG scan with positive uptake at a minimum of one site * For patients with persistent disease, a biopsy\* of a MIBG positive site must have demonstrated viable neuroblastoma * Bone marrow with tumor cells seen on routine mo…