OBJECTIVES: I. Increase the survival rates and duration of survival in children and adolescents with neuroblastoma by using stage- and risk group-appropriate therapy. II. Determine whether using cisplatin/etoposide/vindesine and vincristine/dacarbazine/ifosfamide/doxorubicin instead of cisplatin/teniposide and vincristine/dacarbazine/cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin improves remission rate and lessens toxicity in patients with stage 3C, 3D, or 4 neuroblastoma. III. Determine whether local radiotherapy to the primary tumor and bone metastasis improves local tumor control in these patients. IV. Compare the efficacy and survival associated with short-term, high-dose conditioning chemotherapy plus autologous bone marrow transplantation vs. long-term, low-dose cytostatic chemotherapy as consolidation therapy in these patients. V. Determine whether early use of low-dose doxorubicin/vincristine plus hepatic irradiation slows disease progression in patients with stage 4S-C neuroblastoma. VI. Determine whether 4 courses of chemotherapy reduces the occurrence of local and systemic relapse in patients with stages 2, 3A, and 3B neuroblastoma. VII. Determine whether serum tumor markers (LDH, catecholamine metabolites, and neuron-specific enolase) are predictive of remission behavior.