Vatalanib in Treating Patients With Metastatic Cutaneous Melanoma That Cannot be Removed by Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed metastatic cutaneous melanoma * Unresectable disease * Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 bidimensionally measurable lesion by clinical or radiological techniques (i.e., chest x-ray, CT scan, or conventional MRI scan) using RECIST criteria * No history or presence of CNS disease (i.e., primary brain tumor, malignant seizures, clinically symptomatic CNS metastases, or carcinomatous meningitis) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status 0-2 * Life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks * Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * WBC ≥ 3,000/mm\^3 * ANC ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 3 x ULN (≤ 5 if liver metastases are present) * Transaminases ≤ 3 x ULN (≤ 5 if liver metastases are present) * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 x ULN or creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min * Total urinary protein ≤ 500 mg by 24-hour urine collection * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception * No history of other malignant disease except adequately treated nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix * No other serious or uncontrolled illness which, in the opinion of the investigator, precludes study entry * No medical or psychiatric condition that precludes giving informed consent * No history of renal disease (e.g., glomerulonephritis) or renal vascular disease * No acute or chronic active liver disease (e.g., hepatitis or cirrhosis) * No concurrent severe and/or uncontrolled medical conditions that would compromise participation in the study, including any of the following: * Uncontrolled high blood pressure, history of labile hypertension, or history of poor compliance with an antihypertensive regimen * Unstable angina pectoris * Symptomatic congestive heart failure * Myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * Serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia * Uncontrolled diabetes * Active or uncontrolled infection * No impairment of gastrointestinal (GI) function or GI disease that may significantly alter the absorption of vatalanib including, but not limited to, any of the following conditions: * Ulcerative disease * Uncontrolled nausea * Vomiting * Diarrhea which might result in malabsorption * Any known malabsorption syndrome * Bowel obstruction * Inability to swallow the capsules/tablets PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * Recovered from all prior therapy * Prior adjuvant therapy allowed * Prior radiotherapy allowed * Measurable target lesions must not have been irradiated * No more than one line of prior systemic therapy for advanced melanoma * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or investigational agent * More than 2 weeks since prior surgery * No concurrent warfarin or other similar oral anticoagulants that are metabolized by the cytochrome p450 system * Concurrent heparin allowed * Concurrent radiotherapy for symptomatic disease is allowed, provided the lesions being irradiated contribute ≤ 20% of the sum of the longest diameter for all target lesions being used to determine response