SWOG-9430: Surgery in Treating Patients With Metastatic Melanoma

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed metastatic melanoma that is deemed grossly surgically resectable
• * Multiple resected sites or metastatic melanoma of unknown primary allowed provided all known disease can be grossly resected
• * Recurrence in iliac lymph nodes after inguinal lymph dissection allowed
• No metastatic disease beyond the lesions planned for resection
• * Confirmed by CT scan of chest, abdomen, pelvis, and CT or MRI of brain within 42 days of study
• Concurrent registration on protocol SWOG-9431 required
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• SWOG 0-2
• Hematopoietic:
• Not specified
• Hepatic:
• Not specified
• Renal:
• Not specified
• Other:
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or adequately treated stage I or II cancer from which patient is currently disease free
• Not pregnant
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Prior immunotherapy in the adjuvant or metastatic setting allowed
• Chemotherapy:
• Prior chemotherapy in the adjuvant or metastatic setting allowed
• Endocrine therapy:
• Prior hormonal therapy in the adjuvant or metastatic setting allowed
• Radiotherapy:
• Prior radiotherapy in the adjuvant or metastatic setting allowed
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 14 days since prior surgery in the adjuvant or metastatic setting
• Other:
• Recovered from prior therapy