Gene Therapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic Melanoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed metastatic melanoma unresponsive to standard therapy or for which no curative therapy exists No primary ocular melanoma At least one cutaneous metastatic lesion measuring at least 1 cm in diameter No untreated brain metastases by MRI or CT scan

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: SWOG 0-1 Life expectancy: Greater than 2 months Hematopoietic: WBC greater than 3,000/mm3 Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL No active, acute, or chronic hepatitis Renal: Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No unstable angina or complicated cardiovascular disease that would preclude catheterization Immunologic: No active autoimmune disease or infection Peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferative response to 1 microgram/mL staphylococcal enterotoxin B in vitro, with a stimulation index of at least 5 Other: HIV negative No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus No psychiatric illness that would preclude study Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No other malignancy except nonmelanomatous skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since other prior anticancer therapy No concurrent glucocorticosteroids