Recombinant Interferon Alfa-2b in Treating Patients With Melanoma

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine whether selection of the optimal IFN-alpha-2b (recombinant interferon alfa-2b) dose can be made using signal transduction data. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine the tolerability of adjuvant IFN-alpha-2b administered at an optimized dose in terms of the toxicities that are observed and the ability of patients to receive a full year of therapy. II. The transcription of a panel of IFN-alpha-induced genes previously identified by microarray analysis will be determined by Real-Time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) in order that the correlation between signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) phosphorylation and IFN-alpha gene regulation can be evaluated. III. Microarray analysis of patient peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) will be used to evaluate the effect of dose-reduction on IFN-alpha gene expression. IV. In order to define the clinical role of tumor sensitivity to IFN-alpha, patient tumor biopsies taken prior to the administration of IFN-alpha will be systematically evaluated for cellular levels of janus kinase (Jak)-STAT signaling intermediates. OUTLINE: Patients receive recombinant interferon alfa-2b subcutaneously (SC) thrice weekly. Treatment continues for 11 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 3-6 months for 2 years.