Riluzole in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Melanoma That Cannot Be Removed by Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed malignant melanoma

  * Unresectable stage III or stage IV disease
* Measurable disease according to RECIST criteria, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion \> 20 mm by conventional techniques or \> 10 mm by spiral CT scan
* No known brain metastases unless treated and stable for ≥ 2 weeks by MRI evaluation

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* ECOG performance status 0-2
* ANC ≥ 1,000/μL
* Platelet count ≥ 50,000/μL
* Total bilirubin ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* AST/ALT ≤ 3 times ULN
* INR ≤ 1.5 times ULN
* Not pregnant
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 weeks after completion of study treatment
* No second primary malignancy, except carcinoma in situ of the cervix, adequately treated nonmelanoma carcinoma of the skin, or other malignancy treated ≥ 5 years ago with no evidence of recurrence
* No concurrent serious systemic disorders (including active infections) that, in the opinion of the investigator, would compromise the safety of the patient or compromise the patient's ability to complete the study
* No history of allergic reactions attributed to riluzole
* No known history of hepatitis B or C

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* No more than 1 prior therapeutic chemotherapy regimen for advanced melanoma
* Prior treatment with riluzole on clinical trial CINJ-090603 allowed
* No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies for the treatment of the malignancy