hu14.18-Interleukin-2 Fusion Protein in Treating Young Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Neuroblastoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed neuroblastoma Relapsed or refractory to conventional therapy Measurable or evaluable disease documented by 1 of the following criteria: Clinical Radiographic Histologic MIBG (meta-iodobenzylguanidine) scanning Immunocytochemistry No symptomatic pleural effusions or ascites requiring constant or intermittent drainage No clinical or radiological evidence of central nervous system (CNS) disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 21 and under Performance status Karnofsky 50-100% (> 16 years of age) Lansky 50-100% (≤ 16 years of age) Life expectancy At least 8 weeks Hematopoietic Absolute neutrophil count > 1,000/mm^3 Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm^3* Must not be refractory to platelet transfusions Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL* NOTE: *Transfusion allowed if patient is known to have a history of bone marrow involvement with tumor Hepatic Alanine transaminase (ALT) < 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN Hepatitis B surface antigen negative Renal Creatinine adjusted according to age as follows: No greater than 0.4 mg/dL (≤ 5 months) No greater than 0.5 mg/dL (6 months -11 months) No greater than 0.6 mg/dL (1 year-23 months) No greater than 0.8 mg/dL (2 years-5 years) No greater than 1.0 mg/dL (6 years-9 years) No greater than 1.2 mg/dL (10 years-12 years) No greater than 1.4 mg/dL (13 years and over [female]) No greater than 1.5 mg/dL (13 years to 15 years [male]) No greater than 1.7 mg/dL (16 years and over [male]) OR Creatinine clearance or radioisotope glomerular filtration rate at least 70 mL/min Cardiovascular Shortening fraction ≥ 27% by echocardiogram OR Ejection fraction ≥ 50% by Multi Gated Acquisition Scan (MUGA) No symptomatic congestive heart failure No uncontrolled cardiac rhythm disturbance Pulmonary Pulse oximetry > 94% on room air Forced vital capacity (FVC) > 80% Forced expiratory volume (FEV_1) > 80% No abnormal respiratory function No dyspnea at rest No exercise intolerance No prior history of ventilator support related to lung injury (e.g., pneumonia, hemorrhagic pneumonitis, or capillary leakage) Other Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception HIV negative No active uncontrolled infection No active uncontrolled peptic ulcer No objective peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2 No significant psychiatric disabilities No seizure disorders requiring antiseizure medications No other concurrent significant illness PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy Recovered from prior immunotherapy Prior in vivo monoclonal antibodies for biologic therapy or tumor imaging allowed provided there is documented absence of detectable antibody to hu14.18 by serology More than 28 days since prior autologous stem cell transplantation Prior autologous marrow or stem cell infusion using monoclonal antibody-purged specimens allowed More than 1 week since prior growth factors At least 7 days since prior nonmyelosuppressive biologic agents No prior allogeneic bone marrow or stem cell transplantation No concurrent immunomodulating agents No concurrent growth factors Chemotherapy More than 3 weeks since prior myelosuppressive chemotherapy (4 weeks for nitrosoureas) and recovered No concurrent anticancer chemotherapy Endocrine therapy No concurrent corticosteroids except 100 mg or less of hydrocortisone (or equivalent) as premedication for blood transfusion or treatment for transfusion reaction No other use of systemic steroids Radiotherapy Recovered from prior radiotherapy At least 2 weeks since prior local palliative radiotherapy (small port) At least 6 months since prior craniospinal radiotherapy At least 6 months since prior total body irradiation At least 6 months since prior radiotherapy to ≥ 50% of the pelvis At least 6 weeks since other prior substantial bone marrow radiotherapy Concurrent radiotherapy to localized painful lesions allowed provided at least 1 measurable or evaluable lesion is not irradiated Surgery More than 2 weeks since prior major surgery (e.g., laparotomy or thoracotomy) No prior organ allografts Other No concurrent immunosuppressive drugs No other concurrent myelosuppressive antineoplastic drugs