Inclusion Criteria:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed Merkel cell carcinoma

- Metastatic OR regionally recurrent disease

- Localized disease not amenable to curative therapy (surgery or radiotherapy)
also allowed

- Measurable disease

- At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan

- No known brain metastases

- Previously resected or irradiated brain metastases allowed if stable for at
least the past 3 months and no evidence of neurological compromise exists

- Performance status - Karnofsky 60-100%

- Absolute neutrophil count >= 1,500/mm^3

- Platelet count >= 100,000/mm^3

- WBC >= 3,000/mm^3

- AST/ALT =< 2.5 times upper limit of normal

- Bilirubin normal

- INR =< 1.5

- Creatinine normal

- Creatinine clearance >= 60 mL/min

- No atrial fibrillation unless stable for at least the past 6 months

- No symptomatic congestive heart failure

- No unstable angina pectoris

- No cardiac arrhythmia

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- Adequate venous access

- No peripheral neuropathy > grade 1

- No active or ongoing infection

- No other concurrent uncontrolled illness

- No prior grade 3 or 4 anaphylactic reaction to phosphorothioate oligonucleotide

- No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance

- More than 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered

- More than 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

- No prior radiotherapy to 25% or more of bone marrow

- More than 3 weeks since prior investigational therapy and recovered

- No prior oblimersen

- No other concurrent investigational agents

- No concurrent anticoagulation except 1 mg of warfarin for mediport patency

- No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients