Bevacizumab With or Without Interferon Alfa in Treating Patients With Metastatic Malignant Melanoma

Inclusion Criteria:

Histologically or cytologically confirmed cutaneous malignant melanoma

Must meet one of the following criteria:

Clinical evidence of metastatic disease
Unresectable regional lymphatic disease
Extensive in transit recurrent disease

Measurable disease

At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral computed tomography (CT) scan
No known brain metastases
No ocular melanoma
Performance status - Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0-2
Performance status - Karnofsky 60-100%
More than 6 months
White blood cells (WBC) at least 3,000/mm^3
Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3
No clinical evidence of coagulopathy
Bilirubin =< 2.0 mg/dL (3.0 mg/dL for patients with Gilbert's disease provided patient is stable and asymptomatic)
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
Prothrombin time (PT)/International normalized ratio (INR) less than 1.5
Creatinine =< 1.5 mg/dL
Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min
Protein < 1,000 mg on 24-hour urine collection for patients with proteinuria >= 1+
No symptomatic congestive heart failure
No unstable angina pectoris
No cardiac arrhythmia

No history of thrombosis (e.g., deep vein thrombosis), unless the following criteria are met:

INR in normal range (usually 2-3) AND on a stable dose of warfarin or low molecular weight heparin
No active bleeding or pathologic condition that would confer a high risk of bleeding (e.g., known varices or tumor involving major vessels)
No uncontrolled hypertension
Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
No prior allergic reactions to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to bevacizumab or interferon alfa
No ongoing or active infection
No other concurrent uncontrolled illness
No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) allowed provided otherwise well
At least 4 weeks since prior adjuvant interferon alfa
No prior interferon alfa for metastatic disease

No prior cytokine therapy for metastatic disease (e.g., high-dose interleukin-2 [IL-2])

Prior IL-2 allowed for patients randomized to arm III only
No prior investigational antiangiogenic agents
No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for metastatic disease
At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered
At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
No other concurrent investigational agents