RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and carboplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving more than one drug (combination chemotherapy) may kill more tumor cells. An autologous peripheral stem cell transplant may be able to replace blood-forming cells that were destroyed by chemotherapy. This may allow more chemotherapy to be given so that more tumor cells are killed.

PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects and best dose of ifosfamide when given together with paclitaxel and carboplatin followed by an autologous stem cell transplant and to see how well they work in treating patients with germ cell tumors that did not respond to cisplatin.

OBJECTIVES:

• Determine the safety of paclitaxel and ifosfamide followed by dose-escalated, dose-intensive paclitaxel, carboplatin, and ifosfamide with autologous peripheral blood stem cell support in patients with cisplatin-resistant germ cell tumor. (Phase I)
• Determine the maximum tolerated dose of paclitaxel, carboplatin, and ifosfamide when given with a high-dose treatment program in these patients. (Phase I)
• Determine the efficacy of this regimen when given as salvage therapy in the second-line or third-line setting, in terms of complete response, in these patients. (Phase II)

OUTLINE: This is a phase I, dose-escalation study of paclitaxel, carboplatin, and ifosfamide followed by a phase II, open-label study.

• Phase I:

  • Paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection: Patients receive paclitaxel IV over 3 hours on day 1 and ifosfamide IV over 2 hours on days 1-3. Patients undergo leukapheresis on days 11-13. Patients also receive filgrastim (G-CSF) subcutaneously (SC) twice daily beginning on day 3 and continuing until leukapheresis is completed. Beginning on day 14 or 21, patients may receive a second course of paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and G-CSF. Patients may also undergo additional leukapheresis.
  • Paclitaxel, carboplatin, ifosfamide, and autologous PBSC transplantation: Patients receive paclitaxel IV over 3 hours, high-dose carboplatin IV over 30 minutes, and ifosfamide IV over 4 hours on days 1-3. Patients also receive G-CSF SC beginning on day 3 and continuing until blood counts recover. Patients undergo reinfusion of autologous PBSCs on day 5. Treatment repeats every 21-28 days for 3 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of paclitaxel, carboplatin, and ifosfamide until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 3 or 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity.

• Phase II: Patients receive treatment as in phase I with paclitaxel, carboplatin, and ifosfamide at the MTD determined in phase I.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed periodically for 1 year and then annually thereafter.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed germ cell tumor (GCT)

  • Primary CNS GCT allowed

• Unidimensionally measurable disease OR elevated serum tumor markers (alpha-fetoprotein and/or human chorionic gonadotropin)

• Advanced disease

  • Disease resistant to a cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimen (i.e., failed to achieve a durable complete response to cisplatin)

• Known residual disease after post-chemotherapy surgery allowed

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

• WBC ≥ 3,000/mm^3

• Creatinine clearance > 50 mL/min (unless due to tumor obstructing the ureters)

• AST and ALT < 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

• Bilirubin < 1.5 times ULN

• Not pregnant or nursing

• Negative pregnancy test

• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

• No active infection

• Negative serology for HIV type I and II, human T-lymphotropic virus type I and II, hepatitis B or C virus, syphilis, and cytomegalovirus

  • Hepatitis C negative serology by RIBA or PCR

• Adequate medical condition for general anesthesia

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from recent surgery
• At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy
• No prior high-dose therapy with autologous bone marrow transplantation
• No other concurrent chemotherapy
• No other concurrent treatment (e.g., surgery or radiotherapy)