High-Dose Aldesleukin and Ipilimumab in Treating Patients With Stage III-IV Melanoma That Cannot Be Removed By Surgery

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. The best overall response rate within the first 24 weeks of combination interleukin (IL)-2 (aldesleukin) and ipilimumab using the immune-related response criteria. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. Best overall response (BOR). II. Progression-free survival (PFS). III. Disease control rate (DCR). IV. Overall survival. V. To collect data on the safety and feasibility of combined high-dose IL-2 and ipilimumab. VI. To evaluate the cluster of differentiation (CD)4+ and CD8+ T cell response in the tumor microenvironment and peripheral blood of patients treated on this study. OUTLINE: INDUCTION: Patients receive ipilimumab intravenously (IV) over 90 minutes on days 1, 22, 43, and 64 and high-dose aldesleukin IV on days 22-26 and 43-47. MAINTENANCE: Beginning on weeks 24, patients without disease progression or unacceptable toxicity receive ipilimumab IV over 90 minutes once every 12 weeks for up to 24 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 3 months for 36 months.