OUTLINE: This is an open label, multicenter study. Patients receive 4 courses of intensive chemotherapy consisting of ifosfamide IV over 24 hours and carboplatin IV over 1 hour on day 1 and etoposide IV over 1 hour on days 1 and 2. Filgrastim (G-CSF) is administered subcutaneously beginning on day 2 and continuing until blood cell counts recover. Courses repeat every 14 days. Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) are collected after course 1. PBSC are reinfused on day 3 of courses 2 and 3. Patients who experience a complete response receive prophylactic cerebral irradiation on day 71. Patients are followed every 2 months for 5 years.