Antineoplaston Therapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic, Recurrent, or Refractory Neuroblastoma

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed incurable neuroblastoma that is unlikely to respond to existing therapy, meeting 1 of the following criteria:
• * Metastatic disease
• * Progressive, recurrent, or persistent disease after initial therapy, including surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy
• Measurable disease by MRI or CT scan
• Tumor must be at least 2 cm
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 6 months and over
• Performance status:
• Karnofsky 60-100%
• Life expectancy:
• At least 2 months
• Hematopoietic:
• WBC at least 2,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 50,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• No hepatic insufficiency
• Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL
• SGOT and SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal
• Renal:
• No renal insufficiency
• Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL
• No history of renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium
• Cardiovascular:
• No uncontrolled hypertension
• No history of congestive heart failure
• No history of other cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium
• Pulmonary:
• No serious lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study participation
• No active infection
• No nonmalignant systemic disease
• Not a high medical or psychiatric risk
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy
• No concurrent immunomodulating agents
• Chemotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas)
• Endocrine therapy:
• Concurrent corticosteroids allowed
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from prior surgery
• Other:
• Prior cytodifferentiating agents allowed
• No prior antineoplastons
• No other concurrent antineoplastic agents