Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Germ Cell Tumors That Have Not Responded to Previous Cisplatin

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven germ cell tumor that is resistant to a platinum-based chemotherapy regimen Active disease meeting 1 of the following conditions: Measurable or evaluable disease Elevated serum tumor markers (alpha-fetoprotein or human chorionic gonadotropin) Unresectable residual disease after postchemotherapy surgery Favorable prognostic factors for achieving a complete response (CR) to cisplatin-based salvage therapy required, including all of the following: No more than 1 prior regimen or 6 prior courses of cisplatin Testis or ovarian germ cell primary site Prior CR to cisplatin therapy Incomplete response to first-line therapy that was based on either carboplatin or a suboptimal regimen of cisplatin PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 15 and over Performance status: Not specified Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm^3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Hemoglobin at least 8.0 g/dL Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Creatinine clearance greater than 50 mL/min Renal dysfunction due to ureteral obstruction by tumor allowed at the discretion of the principal investigator Cardiovascular: If history of significant cardiac disease, evaluation and clearance by a cardiologist required prior to entry Other: No active infection not well controlled on antibiotics PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No prior paclitaxel or ifosfamide At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: Not specified Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Recovered from recent surgery