131 I-MIBG in Treating Patients With Refractory or Relapsed Neuroblastoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Original diagnosis of neuroblastoma based on 1 of the following criteria: Histopathology Elevated urine catecholamines with typical tumor cells in the bone marrow Refractory or relapsed disease, meeting 1 of the following criteria: Failure to respond to standard therapy (e.g., combination chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy and surgery) Evidence of disease progression (i.e., any new lesion or an increase in size of > 25% of a pre-existing lesion) at any time Evaluable disease by MIBG scan within 6 weeks of study entry PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception Negative pregnancy test Bilirubin < 2 times normal AST/ALT ≤ 10 times normal Creatinine ≤ 2 mg/dL Absolute neutrophil count* ≥ 750/mm^3 (transfusion independent) Platelet count* ≥ 50,000/mm^3 (20,000/mm^3 if stem cells are available and platelet transfusion independent) Hemoglobin* ≥ 10 g/dL (transfusion allowed) No dyspnea at rest No exercise intolerance No oxygen requirement No clinically significant cardiac dysfunction No disease of any major organ system that would preclude study compliance No active infection that meets grade 3 or 4 toxicity criteria NOTE: *Patients with granulocytopenia and/or thrombocytopenia due to tumor metastases to the bone marrow may be eligible at the discretion of the principal investigator PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: See Disease Characteristics Recovered from prior therapy At least 2 weeks since prior antitumor therapy At least 3 months since prior radiotherapy to any of the following fields: Craniospinal Total abdominal Whole lung Total body At least 1 day since prior cytokine therapy (e.g., filgrastim [G-CSF], sargramostim [GM-CSF], interleukin-6, or epoetin alfa) Prior iodine I 131 metaiodobenzylguanidine allowed provided it was given more than 6 months ago AND patient has adequate hematopoietic stem cells available No concurrent hemodialysis