RATIONALE: Interleukin-2 may stimulate a person's white blood cells to kill melanoma cells.

PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of interleukin-2 in treating patients who have metastatic melanoma.

OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the response and survival rates of patients with metastatic melanoma following induction with high-dose and maintenance with low-dose interleukin-2.

II. Assess the toxicity of this regimen.

PROTOCOL OUTLINE: All patients receive high-dose interleukin-2 over 24 hours, followed by low-dose interleukin-2 for 4 days in the absence of toxicity. Patients receive a second cycle beginning 9-13 days after completion of the first cycle, with response assessed approximately 2 months after initiating therapy. Patients with stable or responding disease receive a second course as above; those with a continued response may receive additional courses provided toxicity is limited.

Patients are followed for survival.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: 20 patients will be entered.

Ages Eligible for Study:  18 Years and above

Criteria

PROTOCOL ENTRY CRITERIA:

--Disease Characteristics--

• Histologically proven melanoma that is metastatic; No tumor replacement of 25% or more of liver on CT or MRI; No involvement of the CNS or a major nerve
• Measurable disease required

--Prior/Concurrent Therapy--

• No prior interleukin-2; At least 28 days since treatment for melanoma

--Patient Characteristics--

• Age: 18 and over
• Performance status: Karnofsky 80%-100%
• Life expectancy: More than 3 months
• Hematopoietic: No coagulopathy (i.e., platelets less than 80,000)
• Hepatic: Bilirubin normal
• Renal: Creatinine normal
• Cardiovascular: No abnormal cardiac stress test in patients over 50 years of age or with possible cardiac disease suggested by history, physical exam, or EKG
• Pulmonary: FEV1 or VC greater than 65% of predicted in patients with significant smoking history or with suspected pulmonary disease by history, physical exam, or x-ray
• Other: No site of ongoing bleeding; No systemic infection; No HIV antibody; No HBsAg; No requirement for steroids; No psychiatric disease that precludes informed consent or protocol treatment; No second malignancy except: Basal cell skin carcinoma; Carcinoma in situ of the cervix; No pregnant or nursing women; Negative pregnancy test required of fertile women; Effective contraception required of fertile women