Chemotherapy With or Without Immunotherapy in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Melanoma

PROTOCOL ENTRY CRITERIA:

--Disease Characteristics--

Histologically confirmed stage III or IV melanoma 1 or more metastatic tumors for which surgery is not deemed to be a curative option
Dacarbazine is indicated as first line chemotherapy
At least 1 measurable tumor at least 1 cm2 but no greater than 100 cm2
No history of brain metastases

--Prior/Concurrent Therapy--

Biologic therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy
Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics; No prior chemotherapy
Endocrine therapy: No concurrent immunosuppressive drugs
Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
Surgery: At least 2 weeks since prior major surgery
Other: No other concurrent anticancer drug therapy or experimental therapy

--Patient Characteristics--

Age: 18 and over
Performance status: Karnofsky 80-100%
Life expectancy: At least 24 weeks
Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm3; Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3; Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL
Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL; SGOT/SGPT less than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN); PT/PTT normal; Albumin normal; LDH no greater than 2 times ULN
Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
Cardiovascular: No uncontrolled hypertension; No New York Heart Association class III or IV disease
Other: HIV negative; Not pregnant or nursing; Negative pregnancy test; Fertile patients must use effective contraception; No active autoimmune disease; No active infection requiring parenteral antibiotics; No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus; No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except skin cancer or stage 0-II cervical cancer; No significant psychiatric disorders