A Phase II Trial of Complete Surgical Resection For Stage IV Melanoma -- Surgical Resection With Biological Evaluation and Clinical Follow-Up

Study start date: November 1, 1996

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed metastatic melanoma that is deemed grossly surgically resectable Multiple resected sites or metastatic melanoma of unknown primary allowed provided all known disease can be grossly resected Recurrence in iliac lymph nodes after inguinal lymph dissection allowed No metastatic disease beyond the lesions planned for resection Confirmed by CT scan of chest, abdomen, pelvis, and CT or MRI of brain within 42 days of study Concurrent registration on protocol SWOG-9431 required PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: SWOG 0-2 Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Not specified Other: No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or adequately treated stage I or II cancer from which patient is currently disease free Not pregnant PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Prior immunotherapy in the adjuvant or metastatic setting allowed Chemotherapy: Prior chemotherapy in the adjuvant or metastatic setting allowed Endocrine therapy: Prior hormonal therapy in the adjuvant or metastatic setting allowed Radiotherapy: Prior radiotherapy in the adjuvant or metastatic setting allowed Surgery: See Disease Characteristics At least 14 days since prior surgery in the adjuvant or metastatic setting Other: Recovered from prior therapy