DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: - Diagnosis of high-risk neuroblastoma confirmed by histology and/or tumor cells in bone marrow with elevated urinary catecholamine metabolites - Meets 1 of the following response status criteria: - Current or previous progressive disease - Mixed or no response following completion of minimum of 4 courses of induction therapy - Meets 1 of the following criteria: - Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan - Metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scan with uptake at a minimum of one site - Bone marrow disease documented by standard morphology of bilateral bone marrow aspirate and biopsy specimens - Documentation by positive immunocytology is not sufficient - Biopsy of a lesion seen on bone scan that is non-avid for MIBG and that demonstrates viable neuroblastoma - Meets 1 of the following criteria for harvested autologous stem cells: - Availability of at least 1.5 x 10^6 CD34-positive unpurged autologous peripheral blood stem cells per kg of body weight* - Availability of at least 1.0 x 10^6 viable CD34-positive purged autologous peripheral blood stem cells per kg of body weight* - A backup source of stem cells is required if there are < 1.5 x 10^6 CD34-positive viable cells/kg available for infusion - Availability of at least 1 x 10^8 purged autologous mononuclear bone marrow cells per kg of body weight* NOTE: *Product to be infused must have 0 tumor cells by immunocytology - No history of intraparenchymal brain lesion - No concurrent intraparenchymal brain lesion or meningeal/parameningeal soft tissue mass extending directly into the cranial cavity by CT, MRI, or metaiodobenzylguanidine scan PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: - Over 9 months to 30 years Performance status: - ECOG or Zubrod 0-1 Life expectancy: - At least 2 months Hematopoietic: - Absolute neutrophil count at least 500/mm^3 - Platelet count at least 20,000/mm^3 (transfusion allowed) - Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL (transfusion allowed) Hepatic: - Bilirubin normal - AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times normal - No active hepatitis if HIV positive Renal: - Glomerular filtration rate or creatinine clearance ≥ 100 mL/min - Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times normal Cardiovascular: - Ejection fraction at least 55% by echocardiogram or MUGA scan OR - Fractional shortening at least 30% by echocardiogram Pulmonary: - No dyspnea at rest or exercise intolerance - No active pneumonia if HIV positive Neurologic: - No grade 1 or greater neurological function abnormality except grade 1 irritability, headache, dizziness, insomnia, or somnolence (if due to narcotic analgesics) - No history of seizures Other: - No other active health problems if HIV positive - No concurrent neoplastic or nonneoplastic disease of any major organ system that would preclude study participation - Not pregnant or nursing - Negative pregnancy test - Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: - See Disease Characteristics - At least 3 weeks since prior biologic therapy and recovered Chemotherapy: - At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosoureas) and recovered - No other concurrent anticancer chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: - Not specified Radiotherapy: - Recovered from prior radiotherapy - Prior diagnostic radiotherapy allowed - More than 6 months since prior radiotherapy to mantle and Y ports - More than 3 months since prior therapeutic metaiodobenzylguanidine (^131I-MIBG) and no more than 20 mCl/kg total dose received - At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy to all other sites - More than 6 months since prior radiotherapy to kidneys, liver, heart, skull, or face - No more than 25% of the liver can have received > 1800 cGy - No more than 20% of one of the kidneys can have received > 1200 cGy - No more than a 10 cc volume of the brain can have received > 1000 cGy - No prior total body irradiation - No prior total cranial or craniospinal radiotherapy - No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: - Not specified Other: - Recovered from any prior therapy - At least 7 days since prior antibiotics, antifungals, or antivirals - No acetaminophen or cephalosporin antibiotics for at least 7 days before, during, and until at least 2 weeks after buthionine sulfoximine infusion - No prophylactic antimicrobials (i.e., nystatin or sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim) for at least 7 days before, during, and until at least 7 days after buthionine sulfoximine infusion - No concurrent antiretroviral medications for HIV-positive patients