OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the efficacy of cyclophosphamide, carboplatin, and etoposide in patients with non-testicular malignant germ cell tumors. II. Improve the quality of life of these patients by shortening the length of treatment and the extent of initial surgical resection. III. Determine whether histologic subtypes have prognostic significance. IV. Determine the efficacy of short term chemotherapy in this patient population. V. Determine the role of second look surgery in predicting curability of non testicular germ cell tumors. VI. Determine the role of dose intensification of cyclophosphamide and the introduction of doxorubicin, methotrexate, and dactinomycin for those patients with partial response, no response, or progressive disease at the time of second look surgery.