Fenretinide in Treating Children With Recurrent or Resistant Neuroblastoma

Inclusion criteria

* Diagnosis of recurrent or resistant/refractory high-risk neuroblastoma by one or both of the following: * Histological confirmation * Demonstration of tumor cells in bone marrow with increased urinary catecholamines * Stratum I: * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion\* * At least 20 mm by MRI and/or CT scan OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan * Stratum II: Meets one or both of the following criteria: * At least 1 site with positive uptake on meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) I 123 scan * Tumor in bilateral bone marrow aspirate/biopsy by routine morphology (no NSE staining only) * Stratum III: * At least 5 tumor cells/10\^6 mononuclear cells in the bone marrow by immunocytology only (on 2 successive bone marrows performed from 1 day to 4 weeks apart) * Patients in first response (i.e., patients with persistent tumor at end of frontline therapy, but who have never had disease relapse or progression) must have histological\* or morphological (by bone marrow) confirmation\*\* of viable tumor on CT scan, MRI, or MIBG scan after completion of myeloablative therapy (for strata I and II) * No catecholamine elevation only * Performance status - 0-2 * At least 2 months * Hemoglobin greater than 7.5 g/dL (transfusion allowed) * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal * SGPT and SGOT less than 2.5 times normal * Creatinine normal for age * No hematuria or proteinuria greater than 1+ on urinalysis * Calcium less than 11.6 mg/dL * Triglycerides less than 300 mg/dL * Not pregnant * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No seizure disorders unless on anticonvulsants and well controlled * No skin toxicity greater than grade 1 * Must be able to consume entire intact study capsule in the dosage prescribed for body surface area * Recovered from prior immunotherapy * At least 7 days since prior anticancer biologic therapy * At least 2 days since prior growth factors * Prior autologous stem cell transplantation allowed * No prior allogeneic stem cell transplantation * No concurrent immunomodulating agents * At least 2 weeks since prior myelosuppressive chemotherapy (4 weeks for nitrosoureas) and recovered * No concurrent anticancer chemotherapy * No concurrent steroids * Recovered from prior radiotherapy * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy to target lesion * Prior radiotherapy to non target lesions allowed * No concurrent radiotherapy to sole measurable lesion for symptom relief * Concurrent palliative radiotherapy to non target or localized painful lesions allowed * Prior tretinoin or isotretinoin allowed * At least 2 weeks since other prior retinoids * No prior fenretinide * No concurrent supplemental oral or IV vitamin A, ascorbic acid, or vitamin E (except if contained in routine total parenteral nutrition \[TPN\] vitamin supplements) * No concurrent drugs suspected of causing pseudotumor cerebri (e.g., tetracycline, nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin, phenytoin, sulfonamides, lithium, amiodarone, or vitamin A \[except as part of routine TPN supplements\]) * No other concurrent anticancer agents