Irinotecan and Temozolomide in Treating Young Patients With Recurrent Neuroblastoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed neuroblastoma AND/OR demonstration of tumor cells in the bone marrow with increased urinary catecholamines at initial diagnosis

  * Patients with elevated catecholamines only are not eligible
* Meets 1 of the following criteria:

  * Recurrent disease following aggressive, multidrug, frontline chemotherapy, defined as chemotherapy given with ≥ 2 agents, including an alkylating agent and a platinum-containing compound
  * Resistant/refractory disease during aggressive, multidrug, frontline chemotherapy
* Must meet 1 of the following criteria for documentation of disease:

  * Unidimensionally measurable tumor ≥ 20 mm by MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), CT scan (Computed Tomography), or x-ray OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan within 4 weeks prior to study entry

    * Patients with residual stable tumor upon completion of frontline therapy must undergo biopsy to document presence of a viable neuroblastoma
    * If the measurable target lesion was previously radiated, a biopsy must be performed ≥ 4 weeks after radiation was completed AND the biopsy must demonstrate viable neuroblastoma
  * MIBG scan (metaiodobenzylguanidine scan, a radiopharmaceutical) with positive uptake at ≥ 1 site within 4 weeks prior to study entry

    * Patients with residual stable MIBG-positive lesions upon completion of frontline therapy must undergo biopsy to document presence of viable neuroblastoma
    * If the patient has only 1 MIBG-positive lesion, and that lesion was previously radiated, a biopsy must be performed ≥ 4 weeks after radiation was completed AND the biopsy must demonstrate viable neuroblastoma
  * Bone marrow with tumor cells on routine morphology (not by neuron-specific enolase staining only) of bilateral aspirate and/or biopsy on 1 bone marrow sample within 2 weeks prior to study entry
* No extensive marrow disease
* No myelodysplastic syndrome

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Karnofsky performance status (PS) 50-100% (for patients \> 16 years of age) OR Lansky PS 50-100% (for patients ≤ 16 years of age)
* Life expectancy ≥ 8 weeks
* Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 750/mm\^3
* Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm\^3 (transfusion independent)
* Hemoglobin ≥ 8.5 mg/dL (transfusion allowed)
* 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
* Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) for age
* ALT \< 2.5 times ULN for age
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* Seizure disorder allowed provided seizures are well controlled on non-EIAC medication
* No active diarrhea or uncontrolled infection
* No other malignancy, including secondary malignancy

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* Prior front-line therapy (e.g., surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, or retinoids) allowed
* Recovered from prior therapy
* More than 4 weeks since prior radiation therapy to the site of any lesion that will be identified as a target lesion to measure tumor response
* At least 2 weeks since prior myelosuppressive therapy (4 weeks for nitrosourea)
* At least 1 week since prior therapy with an antineoplastic biologic agent or retinoid
* At least 1 week since prior growth factors
* At least 1 week since prior and no other concurrent anticancer agents
* At least 1 week since prior and no concurrent enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants (EIAC), including phenytoin, phenobarbital, valproic acid, or carbamazepine

  * Concurrent gabapentin or levetiracetam allowed
* Concurrent palliative radiation therapy to sites not used to measure tumor response allowed
* No prior allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT)

  * Prior autologous SCT allowed
* No prior second-line chemotherapy for relapsed or refractory disease
* No concurrent immunomodulating agents

  * Concurrent steroids for transfusion/infusion reactions or for treatment of edema associated with CNS lesions allowed