This randomized phase III trial is studying cyclophosphamide, prednisone, and immunoglobulin to see how well they work compared to cyclophosphamide and prednisone alone in treating patients with abnormal trunk muscle movements associated with neuroblastoma. Drugs used in chemotherapy, work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Steroid therapy decreases inflammation. Combining chemotherapy and steroid therapy with immunoglobulin may be effective in treating abnormal muscle movement associated with neuroblastoma.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Determine whether cyclophosphamide and prednisone with or without immune globulin is a reasonable baseline standard therapy for pediatric patients with neuroblastoma-associated opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia (OMA) syndrome.

II. Determine whether immunosuppressive therapy with cyclophosphamide and prednisone is an effective backbone therapy for OMA upon which to build additional treatment for these patients

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Determine whether these regimens improve OMA syndrome in these patients. II. Determine whether these regimens improve motor coordination in these patients.

III. Determine these regimens improve functional outcome in these patients. IV. Investigate the biology of neuroblastoma associated OMA, with specific regard to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, anti-neuronal antibodies, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings and tumor biology.

VI. Define better the long-term prognosis for neurologic recovery in the child with neuroblastoma associated with OMA syndrome. VII. Compare the event-free and overall survival of patients treated with these regimens.

OUTLINE:

CHEMOTHERAPY: Patients with intermediate-risk or high-risk neuroblastoma receive chemotherapy (including cyclophosphamide) according to the standard of care for the stage of primary neuroblastoma, beginning on day 0. Patients with low-risk neuroblastoma (and not receiving other chemotherapy) receive cyclophosphamide IV over 1 hour on day 0. Treatment repeats every 4 weeks for 6 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. All patients receive oral prednisone twice daily for 3 months and then every other day for 7-15 months.

IMMUNE GLOBULIN THERAPY: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

ARM I: Patients receive immune globulin IV on days -2 and -1, at weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24, and then at months 8, 10, and 12 after therapy. Treatment continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients with no response after 6 months go off treatment.

ARM II: Patients do not receive immune globulin. Patients with unresponsive opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia syndrome after 2 months or progression after 6 months may cross over to arm I.

Patients are followed during therapy every month for 6 months, at 1 year, and then annually for up to 10 years.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Newly diagnosed neuroblastoma (NBL) or ganglioneuroblastoma with tumor-associated opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia syndrome (OMA)

  • Patients with NBL diagnosed within 6 months of OMA diagnosis AND patients with OMA diagnosed within 6 months of NBL diagnosis are eligible
  • Must enroll on study within 4 weeks of diagnosis
  • Presence of opsoclonus, myoclonus, and/or ataxia associated with neuroblastoma considered eligible

• Currently enrolled on COG neuroblastoma protocols: COG-ANBL00B1 or its successor

• Creatinine clearance or radioisotope GFR ≥ 70 mL/min OR serum creatinine based on age/gender as follows:

  • ≤ 0.4 mg/dL (for patients 1 to 5 months of age)
  • ≤ 0.5 mg/dL (for patients 6 to 11 months of age)
  • ≤ 0.6 mg/dL (for patients 1 year of age)
  • ≤ 0.8 mg/dL (for patients 2 to 5 years of age)
  • ≤ 1.0 mg/dL (for patients 6 to 9 years of age)
  • ≤ 1.2 mg/dL (for patients 10 to 12 years of age)
  • ≤ 1.4 mg/dL (for female patients ≥ 13 years of age)
  • ≤ 1.5 mg/dL (for male patients 13 to 15 years of age)
  • ≤ 1.6 mg/dL (for male patients ≥ 16 years of age)

• No prior IV gamma globulin therapy

• No prior chemotherapy

• Concurrent chemotherapy allowed

• No prior prednisone or corticotropin

  • Patients who have received ≤ 14 days of steroids are eligible

• Concurrent surgery allowed