Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed advanced stage IV malignant melanoma M1
All pathologic subtypes eligible Tridimensionally measurable disease At least 1 discreet
easily accessible and measurable cutaneous or subcutaneous lesion of a volume no greater
than 3 cm3 by physical examination using Vernier calipers Ulcerated or necrotic lesions
may not serve as index lesion Not a candidate for curative surgical resection Visceral
metastases, including brain lesions, eligible provided no rapidly progressive CNS
metastases likely to result in death within 3 months

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 60-100% Life
expectancy: Greater than 3 months Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least
1,800/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL Hepatic: BUN no
greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times ULN
Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.8 mg/dL OR Creatinine clearance at least 70 mL/min
Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective
contraception during and for 3 months after study No other clinically significant medical
disease that is poorly controlled and/or expected to impact patient survival or that would
preclude study therapy No significant cognitive impairment No serious active infection
requiring intravenous antibiotic or antiviral therapy No clinical AIDS No primary
immunodeficiencies No other concurrent active malignancy No history of sensitivity to
ganciclovir or other antiviral drugs of this family No prior severe reaction to adenovirus
or herpes virus infection (e.g., toxic epidermal necrolysis or Stevens-Johnson syndrome)

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior biological
response modifier therapy (e.g., interleukin-2, interferon) and recovered No prior gene
therapy using adenoviral based vectors, chimeric adenoviral based vectors, HSV-tk or other
thymidine kinase based therapy No concurrent biological response modifier therapy No other
concurrent gene therapy including ribozyme and antisense based therapy Chemotherapy: At
least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas, melphalan, or mitomycin)
and recovered No concurrent antineoplastic chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Concurrent
replacement or therapeutic corticosteroids allowed Radiotherapy: Prior radiotherapy
allowed provided index lesion not within radiation field Recovered from prior radiotherapy
No concurrent radiotherapy except for CNS metastases provided index lesion not within
radiation field Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Recovered from prior surgery Other:
No other concurrent ganciclovir, acyclovir, or similar antiviral drug No concurrent
immunosuppressive therapy (e.g., organ allograft)