Everolimus in Treating Patients With Stage IV Melanoma

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed malignant melanoma for which no known standard or potentially curative therapy exists or has been proven to extend life expectancy * Stage IV disease * Measurable disease * At least 1 lesion ≥ 20 mm by CT scan or MRI OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan * No intracranial disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy * At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL * No bleeding diathesis Hepatic * AST ≤ 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 3 ULN * INR ≤ 1.5 Renal * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Willing to refrain from foods high in fat content * No uncontrolled infection * No immunosuppression from any cause (e.g., known HIV infection) * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer treated with local resection only * No other severe condition that would preclude study participation or compliance PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * More than 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy or biologic therapy Chemotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered * No prior sirolimus or its analogues for any indication * No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * No concurrent steroids Radiotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy to head and neck area * More than 4 weeks since prior radiosurgery * No prior radiotherapy to \> 30% of bone marrow * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery * Not specified Other * At least 1 week since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inducers * No concurrent warfarin * No concurrent cytotoxic agents * No other concurrent experimental drugs * No other concurrent immunosuppressive therapy