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

Inclusion Criteria

• •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