DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of neuroblastoma meeting 1 of the following criteria:

  • Histopathologically confirmed disease
  • Bone marrow involvement AND elevated urinary catecholamines

• Must meet ≥ 1 of the following criteria:

  • History of tumor progression
  • Recurrent disease
  • Failed to achieve complete response to standard therapy
• Measurable disease by CT scan or MRI OR evaluable disease (i.e., microscopic marrow metastasis) by iodine I 131 metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) or positron emission tomography scans

• Autologous hematopoietic stem cell product cryopreserved and available for reinfusion after study treatment

  • Hematopoietic stem cells ≥ 2 times 10^6 CD34+ cells/kg
• No pulmonary or CNS metastases by CT scan or MRI of the head and chest

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Life expectancy ≥ 4 weeks
• Bilirubin ≤ 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST and ALT ≤ 5 times ULN
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 500/μL
• Platelet count > 50,000/μL (transfusions to maintain platelet count allowed)
• Hemoglobin > 8 g/dL (transfusions to maintain hemoglobin allowed)
• Creatinine ≤ 3 times ULN
• Urine protein:creatinine ratio < 1.0
• Human antimouse antibodies (HAMA) ≤ 1,000 U/mL
• Left ventricular shortening fraction ≥ 15%
• No severe major organ toxicity (i.e., renal, cardiac, hepatic, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, or neurologic toxicity ≤ grade 2)
• No cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack within the past 6 months
• No abdominal fistula, gastrointestinal perforation, or intra-abdominal abscess within the past 6 months
• No deep venous or arterial thrombosis (non-central venous catheter-related) within the past 3 months
• No history of peripheral vascular disease, myocardial infarction, or unstable angina
• No history of allergy to mouse proteins, Chinese hamster ovary cells products, or other recombinant human antibodies
• No chronic nonhealing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture
• No known bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy
• No uncontrolled hypertension
• No active serious infection not controlled by antibiotics
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery
• At least 1 week since prior minor surgery (e.g., fine needle or core biopsies) and recovered
• At least 24 hours since other prior surgical procedures (e.g., placement of central venous catheter)
• At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy or radioimmunotherapy
• At least 2 weeks since prior biologic therapy
• No concurrent anticoagulants, except for heparin flushes for central venous catheter maintenance
• No concurrent major surgery (e.g., abdominal or thoracic surgery for resection of tumor)