Paclitaxel and Carboplatin or Temozolomide in Treating Patients With Stage IV Melanoma

OBJECTIVES: * To assess the anti-tumor activity and toxicity profile of timed delivery of conventional paclitaxel and carboplatin (PC) in patients with stage IV melanoma who have received prior chemotherapy for their metastatic disease. * To assess the anti-tumor activity and toxicity profile of timed delivery of conventional temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy in patients with stage IV melanoma who have received prior chemotherapy for their metastatic disease. * To assess the anti-tumor activity and toxicity profile of timed delivery of conventional PC in patients with stage IV melanoma who have not received prior chemotherapy for their metastatic disease. * To assess the anti-tumor activity and toxicity profile of timed delivery of conventional TMZ chemotherapy in patients with stage IV melanoma who have not received prior chemotherapy for their metastatic disease. * To evaluate the changes of T-regulator cells, melanoma-specific functional parameters as a function of time in all four patient cohorts. OUTLINE: Patients are stratified according to prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease (yes vs no) and scheduled chemotherapy regimen (paclitaxel and carboplatin vs temozolomide). Beginning at the predicted day of C-reactive peptide (CRP) peak levels, patients receive paclitaxel IV and carboplatin IV on days 1, 8, and 15 OR oral temozolomide alone on days 1-5. Treatment repeats every 4 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo blood sample collection periodically for pharmacological studies. Samples are analyzed for CRP quantification via ELISA; presence and number of circulating blood T-regulator cells via immunophenotyping for CD4/CD25+ and CD4/fox-p3+ T cells; level of functional immunity against melanoma specific antigens (MART-1, tyrosinase, and gp100) and survivin in patients that are HLA-A2+ via intracellular staining; total number of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) capable of reacting against melanoma targets via tetramer staining (Becton-Coulter); and quantification of interferon γ-producing, peptide-specific CTLs via multicolor conventional flow cytometry. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed every 3 months for up to 2 years.