Inclusion Criteria

PROTOCOL ENTRY CRITERIA:

--Disease Characteristics--

- Histologically confirmed stage III or IV melanoma 1 or more metastatic tumors for
which surgery is not deemed to be a curative option

- Dacarbazine is indicated as first line chemotherapy

- At least 1 measurable tumor at least 1 cm2 but no greater than 100 cm2

- No history of brain metastases

--Prior/Concurrent Therapy--

- Biologic therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy

- Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics; No prior chemotherapy

- Endocrine therapy: No concurrent immunosuppressive drugs

- Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

- Surgery: At least 2 weeks since prior major surgery

- Other: No other concurrent anticancer drug therapy or experimental therapy

--Patient Characteristics--

- Age: 18 and over

- Performance status: Karnofsky 80-100%

- Life expectancy: At least 24 weeks

- Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm3; Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3;
Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL

- Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL; SGOT/SGPT less than 3 times upper limit
of normal (ULN); PT/PTT normal; Albumin normal; LDH no greater than 2 times ULN

- Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL

- Cardiovascular: No uncontrolled hypertension; No New York Heart Association class III
or IV disease

- Other: HIV negative; Not pregnant or nursing; Negative pregnancy test; Fertile
patients must use effective contraception; No active autoimmune disease; No active
infection requiring parenteral antibiotics; No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus; No
other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except skin cancer or stage 0-II
cervical cancer; No significant psychiatric disorders