High-Dose or Low-Dose Interferon Alfa Compared With No Further Therapy Following Surgery in Treating Patients With Stage III Melanoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Cutaneous melanoma in one of the following categories: T4, N0, M0 Deep primary tumor with Breslow depth greater than 4.0 cm Tx, N1, M0 Primary tumor with regional lymph node metastases found at lymphadenectomy but clinically undetectable Tx, N2, M0 Clinically apparent regional lymph node metastases (synchronous or metachronous) confirmed by lymphadenectomy Definitive surgical resection and lymphadenectomy with pathologically confirmed adequate surgical margins required Minimum 2 cm margin for primary lesions with Breslow depth greater than 2 mm Distal interphalangeal amputation required for subungual melanomas No primary melanoma originating apart from the skin No multiple in transit metastases in an extremity No lymph node involvement outside the operative area resected by radical neck, axillary lymph node, or ilioinguinal dissection PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 16 to 75 Performance status: ECOG 0 or 1 Hematopoietic: WBC at least 4,000 Platelets at least 125,000 Hemoglobin at least 9.8 g/dL (6.1 mmol/L) Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2 times normal AST no greater than 2 times normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.6 mg/dL (140 micromoles/L) Cardiovascular: No ventricular or supraventricular arrhythmia requiring treatment No congestive heart failure (NYHA class 3/4 status) Other: No uncontrolled infection No requirement for ongoing steroids, NSAIDs, or other immunomodulators No organic brain syndrome or significant impairment of basal cognitive function No psychiatric disorder that would preclude study participation or would be exacerbated by study therapy (e.g., depression) No second malignancy except: In situ cervical cancer Nonmelanomatous skin cancer No pregnant or nursing women PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: No prior treatment on this protocol for patients with recurrent melanoma at regional lymph nodes No preoperative infusion or perfusion therapy Biologic therapy: No prior adjuvant immunotherapy Chemotherapy: No prior adjuvant systemic chemotherapy No prior anthracyclines Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No prior adjuvant radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics