Chemotherapy Followed by Biological Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage IV Melanoma That Cannot be Treated With Surgery

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed unresectable stage IV melanoma
• Measurable metastatic disease
• No uncontrolled brain metastases
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• Karnofsky 70-100%
• Life expectancy:
• More than 12 weeks
• Hematopoietic:
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT and SGPT no greater than 3 times ULN
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times ULN
• Renal:
• BUN no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• Cardiovascular:
• No significant cardiovascular disease
• Other:
• No non-malignant systemic disease
• No acute infection requiring IV antibiotics
• No alcohol or substance abuse
• No other condition, disease, or history of other illness that would preclude study participation
• No hypersensitivity, allergic reactions, or intolerance to study drugs
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy
• No prior interleukin-2
• No other concurrent immunotherapy
• No concurrent investigational vaccines or immunomodulatory agents
• No other concurrent growth factors
• Chemotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy
• No prior temozolomide
• No other concurrent anticancer chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• No concurrent steroids (including corticosteroids)
• Radiotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 weeks since prior major surgery
• Other:
• At least 30 days since prior immune-based therapy
• No concurrent participation in other clinical trials with investigational drugs
• No other concurrent anticancer drugs
• No concurrent immunosuppressive therapy
• No concurrent levamisole or cimetidine