Hu14.18-Interleukin-2 Fusion Protein in Treating Patients With Advanced Melanoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed malignant melanoma * Advanced disease * Measurable disease by clinical assessment or imaging * No known standard curative therapy exists * Disease no longer controlled by surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy * No clinically detectable pleural effusion or ascites * No brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * WBC ≥ 3,500/mm\^3 OR * Granulocyte count ≥ 2,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 10.0 g/dL Hepatic * AST and ALT \< 2 times normal * Bilirubin \< 2.0 mg/dL * Hepatitis B surface antigen negative * No clinical evidence of hepatitis Renal * Creatinine \< 2.0 mg/dL OR * Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min Cardiovascular * No ischemic cardiac disease, congestive heart failure, or myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No uncontrolled cardiac rhythm disturbance * No myocardial ischemia or heart failure by exercise radionuclide scan for patients with a history of cardiac disease, significant risk factors for coronary artery disease, or ≥ 65 years of age Pulmonary * Pulmonary function normal by exercise radionuclide scan for patients with a history of cardiac disease, significant risk factors for coronary artery disease, or ≥ 65 years of age Immunologic * HIV negative * No known hypersensitivity to the study drug, Tween-80®, or human immunoglobulin * No uncontrolled active infection Neurologic * No seizure disorder * No objective peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2 * No clinically significant neurologic deficit Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Must consent to the placement of a central venous line OR demonstrate stable peripheral IV access * Must be willing and able to discontinue antihypertensive medications (if advised to do so) on the days of study drug infusion * No uncontrolled active peptic ulcer * No known grade 4 side effects related to prior interleukin-2 * No diabetes mellitus that has required systemic therapy (e.g., oral hypoglycemic agents or insulin) within the past 3 months * No other significant illness * No significant psychiatric disability PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Prior monoclonal antibodies for biologic therapy, tumor imaging, purging of autologous bone marrow/stem cells for re-infusion, or for any other reason allowed provided there is documented absence of detectable antibody to hu14.18 by serology * No concurrent growth factors Chemotherapy * No immediate requirement for palliative chemotherapy * No concurrent anticancer chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * More than 2 weeks since prior and no concurrent corticosteroids (e.g., dexamethasone) * No immediate requirement for palliative hormonal therapy Radiotherapy * No immediate requirement for palliative radiotherapy * Concurrent palliative radiotherapy to localized painful lesions allowed provided ≥ 1 measurable or evaluable lesion is not irradiated AND the irradiated lesion is not used to assess tumor response Surgery * More than 3 weeks since prior major surgery * No prior organ allografts Other * More than 2 weeks since other prior and no concurrent immunosuppressive drugs * No prior standard or experimental systemic therapy for stage IV melanoma * No concurrent myelosuppressive antineoplastic drugs