Temozolomide With or Without Radiation Therapy to the Brain in Treating Patients With Stage IV Melanoma That Is Metastatic to the Brain

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed unresectable metastatic melanoma
• * Must have asymptomatic brain metastasis that is not amenable to surgery or stereotactic radiosurgery (gamma knife, Linac)
• * Must have concurrent visceral/soft tissue metastases
• At least 1 site of measurable disease (not necessarily the brain metastasis)
• Documented evidence of disease progression defined by 1 of the following conditions:
• * More than 25% increase in the size of at least 1 measurable lesion
• * Appearance of a new lesion
• * A significant increase in the size of nonmeasurable disease
• No neurological symptoms, including signs of elevated intracranial pressure
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• 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 less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT or SGPT less than 3 times ULN
• Alkaline phosphatase less than 3 times ULN
• Renal:
• Urea less than 1.5 times ULN
• Creatinine less than 1.5 times ULN
• Other:
• No frequent vomiting or medical condition (e.g., partial bowel obstruction) that would interfere with oral medication intake
• No other prior or concurrent malignancy except surgically cured carcinoma in situ of the cervix or basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer
• No uncontrolled infection
• HIV negative
• No AIDS-related illness
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition that would preclude study
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Prior cytokine via isolated limb perfusion for local-regional melanoma allowed
• No other prior cytokine for metastatic melanoma
• No concurrent colony-stimulating factors, including epoetin alfa or filgrastim (G-CSF)
• No other concurrent immunologic or biologic therapy
• Chemotherapy:
• Prior chemotherapy via isolated limb perfusion for local-regional melanoma allowed
• No other prior chemotherapy for metastatic melanoma
• No other concurrent chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• Concurrent corticosteroids allowed during radiotherapy (arm II only)
• No concurrent hormonal therapy
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No other concurrent radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from the effects of any prior major surgery
• Other:
• No other concurrent investigational drugs