A Phase I Trial of Normothermic Isolated Limb Infusion (ILI) With Melphalan Plus Buthionine Sulfoximine (BSO) in Patients With Locally Advanced Malignant Melanoma

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically proven primary or recurrent in-transit melanoma of the extremity * Stage IIIB or IIIC disease, as determined by whole body imaging with a CT scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis AND PET scan within the past 4 weeks * Patients with stage IIIC disease must have undergone removal of regional lymph nodes * Patients with indeterminate staging must be reviewed by the study chairs prior to study registration * Previously treated with melphalan-based regional therapy and had persistent disease at 3 months OR achieved a complete response but disease recurred within 6 months * Disease to be treated by regional therapy must be distal to the planned site of tourniquet placement * Bidimensionally measurable disease by caliper or a radiological method as defined by the RECIST criteria modified for cutaneous lesions * Photo documentation required * Patients with a single lesion must have archived tumor tissue available for study analysis * No history of tumors with clinically significant evidence of active bleeding (e.g., gross hemoptysis, hematemesis, hematuria, melena, or bleeding superficial tumor) within the past 12 weeks * No stage IV disease * No cerebral metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG/Zubrod performance status 0-1 * Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL * WBC ≥ 3,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL * Bilirubin normal * AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times normal * Must have a palpable femoral/axillary pulse in the affected extremity * No uncontrolled seizures or clinically significant CNS disorders * No psychiatric condition or diminished capacity that could preclude study compliance or giving informed consent * No history of allergic reactions and/or hypersensitivity to melphalan * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No history of other malignancies except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin; curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix, prostate cancer, or superficial bladder cancer; or other curatively treated solid tumors with no evidence of disease for ≥ 5 years * No stroke or other major tissue injury within the past 4 weeks * No other uncontrolled serious chronic disease or condition that, in the investigator's opinion, could preclude study compliance or follow-up PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * Recovered from prior therapy * More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery * Wound healing adequate since last major surgery * More than 4 weeks since prior antineoplastic therapy, radiotherapy, or any other investigational drug * More than 7 days since prior antimicrobial agents (i.e., antibiotic, antifungal, or antiviral agents) for active infection or infectious symptoms * No drugs that are known to cause enhanced glutathione depletion (e.g., acetaminophen) for 7 days before, during, and for 7 days after buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) administration * No cephalosporin antibiotics for 7 days before, during, and for 7 days after BSO administration