Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically documented melanoma that is metastatic or
unresectable and unresponsive to conventional chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy Measurable
or evaluable disease required Measurable disease defined as bidimensionally measurable
lesion on physical exam, x-ray, or MRI Evaluable disease defined as: Unidimensionally
measurable lesion on x-ray, scan, or photograph Disease assessable by serial chemistries,
tumor markers, or nonspecific scans Disease assessable by functional manifestations (e.g.,
change in performance status, 10% or greater change in weight) Previously irradiated
lesion with subsequent disease progression documented Bone-only lesions may be considered
evaluable (lytic lesion on x-ray or bone scan should be followed) No metastases on CT or
MRI involving more than 50% of the liver No uncontrolled or untreated CNS metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 16 Performance status: ECOG 0 or 1 Life expectancy: At
least 3 months Hematopoietic: (unless tumor involvement of bone marrow or spleen is
documented) WBC at least 3,500/mm3 Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet
count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 11.5 g/dL No significant hematologic
abnormalities Hepatic: (unless tumor involvement of liver is documented) Bilirubin no
greater than 1.6 mg/dL SGOT no greater than 150 U/L PT at least 1.5 times control PTT less
than 1.5 times control Renal: (unless tumor involvement of kidney is documented)
Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min Calcium no
greater than 12 mg/dL No symptomatic hypercalcemia Cardiovascular: No myocardial
infarction within 6 months No congestive heart failure No edema No hypotension or
hypertension No coronary artery disease No history of arrhythmia No contraindication to
the use of pressor agents Pulmonary: FEV1 at least 65% of predicted Other: No significant
organ dysfunction No uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infection No active peptic
or duodenal ulcer No psychiatric or seizure disorder No prior solid organ allograft HIV
and hepatitis B surface antigen seronegative within 6 months of study entry No second
malignancy within 5 years except: Inactive nonmelanomatous skin cancer Carcinoma in situ
of the cervix No other serious illness that would limit survival to less than 2 years
Negative pregnancy test

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: More than 4 weeks since immunotherapy
Chemotherapy: Prior anthracyclines allowed provided no symptomatic heart disease is
present More than 4 weeks since chemotherapy (at least 2 weeks, with recovery, if disease
progression is documented) More than 6 weeks since nitrosoureas, melphalan, or mitomycin
Endocrine therapy: More than 1 week since corticosteroids (except physiological doses for
respiratory ailments or adrenal insufficiency) Radiotherapy: More than 4 weeks since
radiotherapy (at least 2 weeks, with recovery, if disease progression is documented)
Surgery: More than 3 weeks since major surgery (excluding surgery for tumor collection)