17-N-Allylamino-17-Demethoxygeldanamycin in Treating Patients With Metastatic Malignant Melanoma

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed malignant melanoma * Metastatic (M1a, M1b, or M1c) disease * Measurable disease by clinical exam, x-ray, CT scan, or MRI * Must have documented disease progression at 2 time points separated by ≥ 6 months * Pre-existing visceral lesions or the appearance of new visceral lesions allowed * New skin disease amenable to surgery not allowed * No primary brain tumors or brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy * More than 3 months Hematopoietic * WBC ≥ 3,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL Hepatic * Bilirubin normal * ALT and AST ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal * No chronic liver disease * No known hepatitis B or C positivity Renal * Creatinine \< 130 mmol/L OR * Creatinine clearance \> 60 mL/min Cardiovascular * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia * No transient ischemic attack * No stroke or peripheral vascular disease Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception for 4 weeks before, during, and for 6 months after study participation * No ongoing or active infection * No diabetes mellitus with evidence of severe peripheral vascular disease or ulcers * No history of allergy to eggs * No known HIV positivity * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * No other uncontrolled illness * No other malignancy except adequately treated cone-biopsied carcinoma in situ of the cervix or basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * More than 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy Chemotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) Endocrine therapy * More than 4 weeks since prior endocrine therapy * Concurrent steroids allowed provided they are given at the lowest possible maintenance dose Radiotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy unless administered for palliative care * Concurrent radiotherapy allowed provided it is administered as a single fraction for bone pain OR as indicated for palliative care Surgery * Not specified Other * Recovered from all prior therapy * Alopecia allowed * No concurrent therapeutic anticoagulation with warfarin * Concurrent prophylactic warfarin for central line maintenance allowed provided INR is checked regularly until stable * Concurrent low-molecular weight heparin allowed * No other concurrent anticancer therapy * No other concurrent investigational drugs