Flavopiridol in Treating Patients With Metastatic Malignant Melanoma

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed metastatic malignant melanoma not amenable to standard curative therapies
• * No prior regional or systemic therapy for metastatic disease
• Measurable disease
• * At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR
• * At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• * Bone lesions not considered measurable
• No known CNS metastases
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• At least 12 weeks
• Hematopoietic:
• Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST no greater than 2.5 times ULN
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than ULN
• Cardiovascular:
• If history of cardiac disease, ejection fraction greater than 50%
• No clinically significant cardiac symptomology
• Pulmonary:
• If history of pulmonary disease, FEV1, FVC, and TLC greater than 60% predicted and DLCO greater than 50% predicted
• No clinically significant pulmonary symptomology
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No other concurrent serious disease
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior adjuvant immunotherapy allowed
• No prior immunotherapy for metastatic disease
• Chemotherapy:
• No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease
• No other concurrent chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior adjuvant hormonal therapy
• Radiotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• Must have measurable disease outside irradiated area OR
• Evidence of progression or new lesions in irradiated area
• No more than 25% of functioning bone marrow irradiated
• No concurrent radiotherapy to sole site of measurable disease
• Surgery:
• At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery
• Other:
• No other concurrent anticancer therapy or investigational anticancer agents