Monoclonal Antibody Therapy in Treating Patients With Leptomeningeal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed malignancy expressing GD2, including, but not limited to:

Medulloblastoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the CNS
Malignant glioma
Neuroblastoma
Retinoblastoma
Ependymoma
Sarcoma
Melanoma
Small cell lung carcinoma
Other tumor types must have GD2 expression confirmed by immunohistochemical staining
Cerebrospinal fluid or leptomeningeal disease that is refractory to conventional therapy or for which no conventional therapy exists
Prior measurable human anti-mouse monoclonal antibody titer allowed

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

3 and over

Performance status:

Not specified

Life expectancy:

At least 2 months

Hematopoietic:

Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,000/mm^3
Platelet count greater than 50,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

Bilirubin less than 3 mg/dL

Renal:

Creatinine less than 2 mg/dL
Blood urea nitrogen less than 30 mg/dL

Other:

May have active malignancy outside the central nervous system
No obstructive hydrocephalus
No CNS grade 3 or 4 toxicity as a consequence of prior treatments
No life threatening infection

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

Prior monoclonal antibody treatment allowed

Chemotherapy:

Prior chemotherapy allowed
Must have recovered from all hematopoietic and neurologic side effects of prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

Not specified

Radiotherapy:

Prior radiotherapy allowed
At least 6 weeks since prior cranial or spinal irradiation

Surgery:

Not specified