SB-715992 in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Recurrent Malignant Melanoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed malignant melanoma * Previously untreated metastatic or recurrent disease * Considered incurable by standard therapies * Measurable disease * At least one unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan * Bone metastases are not considered measurable disease * Outside any previously irradiated area * Patients whose sole site of measurable disease is in a previously irradiated area are ineligible unless there is evidence of progression or new lesions documented in the irradiated field * No known CNS metastases * CT scans or MRI are not required to rule out CNS metastases unless patient exhibits neurological signs or symptoms * Patients with a prior solitary brain metastasis surgically resected with no evidence of residual disease are eligible provided CT scan or MRI confirms no evidence of disease within the past 28 days * Archival paraffin tumor specimen available PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy * At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic * Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * Bilirubin normal * AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Renal * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN 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 * No other malignancy except adequately treated nonmelanoma skin cancer, curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or other curatively treated solid tumors with no evidence of disease for ≥ 5 years * No other uncontrolled illness * No ongoing or active infection * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study participation * No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to SB-715992 PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * At least 3 months since prior adjuvant immunotherapy * No prior immunotherapy for metastatic or recurrent disease Chemotherapy * No prior chemotherapy, including regional therapy Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy except for low-dose, non-myelosuppressive radiotherapy Surgery * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery Other * More than 28 days since prior investigational agents * More than 14 days since prior and no concurrent use of any of the following CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers: * Clarithromycin * Erythromycin * Troleandomycin * Itraconazole * Ketoconazole * Fluconazole (≤ 200 mg/day allowed) * Voriconazole * Nefazodone * Fluvoxamine * Verapamil * Diltiazem * Grapefruit juice * Bitter orange * Phenytoin * Carbamazepine * Phenobarbital * Oxcarbazepine * Rifampin * Rifabutin * Rifapentine * Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) * Modafinil * At least 6 months since prior and no concurrent amiodarone * No concurrent antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients * No other concurrent anticancer treatment * No other concurrent investigational therapies