Chemotherapy Followed by Biological Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage IV Melanoma That Cannot be Treated With Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed unresectable stage IV melanoma
• Measurable metastatic disease
• No uncontrolled brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• Karnofsky 70-100%

Life expectancy:

• More than 12 weeks

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 no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT and SGPT no greater than 3 times ULN
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times ULN

Renal:

• BUN no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular:

• No significant cardiovascular disease

Other:

• No non-malignant systemic disease
• No acute infection requiring IV antibiotics
• No alcohol or substance abuse
• No other condition, disease, or history of other illness that would preclude study participation
• No hypersensitivity, allergic reactions, or intolerance to study drugs
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy
• No prior interleukin-2
• No other concurrent immunotherapy
• No concurrent investigational vaccines or immunomodulatory agents
• No other concurrent growth factors

Chemotherapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy
• No prior temozolomide
• No other concurrent anticancer chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• No concurrent steroids (including corticosteroids)

Radiotherapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 weeks since prior major surgery

Other:

• At least 30 days since prior immune-based therapy
• No concurrent participation in other clinical trials with investigational drugs
• No other concurrent anticancer drugs
• No concurrent immunosuppressive therapy
• No concurrent levamisole or cimetidine