Sorafenib and Temozolomide in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Melanoma

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of unresectable or metastatic melanoma * Stage III or IV disease * Previously treated or untreated metastatic disease * At least one unidimensionally measurable lesion by RECIST criteria by scan or MRI * No concurrent brain or CNS metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * WHO performance status 0-1 * Life expectancy ≥ 3 months * ANC ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin \> 9 g/dL * PT, INR, and PTT \< 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Transaminases \< 2.5 times ULN (\< 5 in the case of liver metastases) * Amylase and lipase \< 1.5 times ULN * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN * Serum creatinine \< 1.5 times ULN * Normal respiratory, cardiac, and neurological function * Not pregnant or nursing * No history of any of the following cardiac conditions: * NYHA class II-IV heart failure * Coronary disease * Myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * Cardiac arrhythmia requiring treatment with something other than beta-blockers or digoxin * Severe uncontrolled hypertension * No severe active infection \> grade 2 * No epilepsy requiring medical treatment * No other cancer except for carcinoma in situ of the cervix, basal cell carcinoma, superficial bladder tumors, or curatively treated cancer \> 3 years ago * No HIV or hepatitis B or C positivity * No lactase or galactokinase deficiency, galactose intolerance, or disease accompanied by malabsorption of glucose or galactose * No allergy to the study drugs or to dacarbazine * Able to swallow medications * No patients deprived of liberty * No psychological, familial, social, or geographic conditions that would preclude clinical follow up PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * No prior organ transplantation * No prior temozolomide or sorafenib tosylate * More than 30 days since other prior antitumor chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy, or investigational agent * More than 30 days since prior study drugs * More than 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy * More than 3 weeks since prior biological response modifiers (i.e., filgrastim \[G-CSF\])