Riluzole in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Melanoma That Cannot Be Removed by Surgery

RATIONALE: Riluzole may stop or slow the growth of tumor cells and may be an effective treatment for melanoma. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well riluzole works in treating patients with stage III or stage IV melanoma that cannot be removed by surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Primary * Determine whether administration of a daily dose of riluzole results in tumor shrinkage, as measured by RECIST criteria, in patients with advanced melanoma. Secondary * Determine the long-term toxicity of riluzole when administered to these patients. * Compare the survival of these patients with historical controls. OUTLINE: Patients receive oral riluzole twice daily on days 1-28. Courses repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.