Biological Therapy and Temozolomide in Treating Patients With Metastatic Melanoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed metastatic melanoma

  * No ocular or mucosal melanoma
* Must meet one of the following criteria:

  * Failed standard or salvage therapy
  * Ineligible for standard therapy due to concurrent illness
  * Declined standard therapy
* Received at least 1 prior therapy for metastatic disease
* Brain metastasis as only site of metastatic disease allowed if there is documented evidence of progression after at least 1 prior treatment for metastases
* No leptomeningeal metastases
* At least 1 documented site of bidimensionally measurable disease by MRI or CT scan

  * Previously irradiated lesions not considered measurable unless documented disease progression after radiotherapy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

* More than 3 months

Hematopoietic:

* WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3
* Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL
* No coagulation disorder such as thrombophlebitis

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL
* AST and ALT less than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Alkaline phosphatase less than 3 times ULN

Renal:

* Creatinine less than 1.5 times ULN
* BUN less than 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular:

* Ejection fraction at least 45%
* No active ischemia
* No unstable angina
* No uncontrolled congestive heart failure

Pulmonary:

* Normal pulmonary function tests within the past month
* FEV1 or FVC more than 65% predicted
* No uncontrolled pulmonary embolism

Gastrointestinal:

* No frequent vomiting
* No medical condition that would preclude oral medication intake (e.g., partial bowel obstruction)

Other:

* No prolonged grade 4 myelosuppression from prior dacarbazine lasting more than 3 weeks
* No uncontrolled cortical dysfunction
* No other major medical illness (e.g., active systemic infection, autoimmune disease, or uncontrolled thyroid abnormality)
* No other malignancy within the past 5 years except resected basal cell carcinoma or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
* No significant psychiatric disease that would preclude study compliance
* No AIDS-related illness
* HIV negative
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics

Biologic therapy:

* More than 1 month since prior biologic therapy or immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

* More than 1 month since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin)

Endocrine therapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior steroid therapy or steroid-containing compounds
* At least 2 weeks since prior topical or inhaled steroids

Radiotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* More than 1 month since prior radiotherapy, interstitial brachytherapy, or radiosurgery

Surgery:

* At least 1 week since prior surgery