DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed metastatic melanoma that is incurable by surgery, radiotherapy, or limb perfusion
* Measurable disease

* At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR
* At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
* The following are not considered measurable:

* Bone lesions
* Leptomeningeal disease
* Ascites
* Pleural/pericardial effusion
* Inflammatory breast disease
* Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis
* Abdominal masses not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques
* Cystic lesions
* Progressive disease
* No prior or concurrent CNS metastasis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

* More than 4 months

Hematopoietic:

* WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3
* Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin normal
* AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal
* Cholesterol no greater than 350 mg/dL (lipid-lowering therapy allowed)
* Triglycerides no greater than 300 mg/dL except for hydroxymethyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors

Renal:

* Creatinine normal OR
* Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

* No symptomatic congestive heart failure
* No unstable angina pectoris
* No cardiac arrhythmia

Other:

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* HIV negative
* No prior allergic reactions to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to study drug
* No ongoing or active infection
* No seizure disorder
* No autoimmune disease
* No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study
* No other concurrent uncontrolled illness that would preclude study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* No more than 1 prior adjuvant biological therapy regimen
* No more than 1 prior biological therapy regimen for advanced disease
* At least 6 months since prior biological therapy or biochemotherapy and recovered
* Prior isolated limb perfusion with biological agent allowed if not to sole site of disease

Chemotherapy:

* See Biologic therapy
* Prior isolated limb perfusion with chemotherapy allowed if not to sole site of disease
* No more than 1 prior chemotherapy-containing regimen for advanced disease, regardless of adjuvant therapy

* May be in addition to 1 prior biologic regimen for advanced disease OR
* May have had 1 prior biochemotherapy regimen for advanced disease
* At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered

Endocrine therapy:

* At least 1 week since prior dexamethasone
* No concurrent glucocorticosteroid therapy

Radiotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics

Surgery:

* See Disease Characteristics

Other:

* At least 1 week since prior phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine, or rifampin
* At least 3 weeks since other prior agents to treat malignancy
* At least 3 weeks since prior investigational agents
* No other concurrent investigational agents
* No concurrent drugs that are metabolized by or alter the level of cytochrome P450-3A