Dacarbazine With or Without Oblimersen (G3139) in Treating Patients With Advanced Malignant Melanoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed malignant melanoma * Progressive disease that is unresectable or metastatic * No primary ocular or mucosal melanoma * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion by physical exam or imaging studies * At least 10 mm by caliper for superficial cutaneous disease * At least 20 mm by contrast-enhanced or spiral CT scan for visceral or nodal/soft tissue disease * No bone metastases as only site of measurable disease * Lesions considered non-measurable include the following: * Bone lesions * Pleural/pericardial effusion * Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis * Abdominal masses that are not confirmed and followed by imaging * Lesions located in a previously irradiated area * No brain metastases or leptomeningeal disease * Considered a medical candidate for dacarbazine treatment PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * Any age Performance status: * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 8 g/dL (hematopoietic growth factor or transfusion independent) Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * ALT/AST no greater than 2.5 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN * Albumin at least 2.5 g/dL * PT/PTT no greater than 1.5 times ULN * No history of chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN OR * Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min Cardiovascular: * No uncontrolled congestive heart failure * No New York Heart Association class III or IV disease * No symptomatic coronary artery disease (e.g., uncontrolled arrhythmias or recurrent chest pain despite prophylactic medication) * No cardiovascular signs and symptoms at least grade 2 within the past 4 weeks Other: * Intellectually, emotionally, and physically able to maintain an ambulatory infusion pump * Satisfactory venous access * No other significant medical disease * No uncontrolled seizure disorder * No active infection * No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus * No active autoimmune disease * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix * No known hypersensitivity to phosphorothioate-containing oligonucleotides or dacarbazine * No known HIV infection * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy, cytokine, biologic, or vaccine therapy in the adjuvant and/or metastatic setting and recovered * No concurrent prophylactic growth factors (e.g., filgrastim \[G-CSF\], sargramostim \[GM-CSF\] or epoetin alfa) during course 1 of study Chemotherapy: * No prior cytotoxic chemotherapy, including regional perfusion Endocrine therapy: * No concurrent chronic corticosteroids with an average dose of at least 20 mg of prednisone or equivalent per day Radiotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered * No prior radiotherapy to measurable target lesions unless progression occurred at that site or measurable disease developed outside the treated area Surgery: * At least 4 weeks since prior surgery and recovered * No prior organ allografts Other: * At least 3 weeks since prior experimental therapy * No prior intratumoral injection therapy to measurable target lesions unless progression occurred at that site or measurable disease developed outside the treated area * No concurrent immunosuppressive drugs * No concurrent anticoagulation therapy except 1 mg/day of warfarin for central line prophylaxis