Perifosine in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Recurrent Malignant Melanoma

Inclusion Criteria

• •DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Histologically confirmed malignant melanoma
• •Metastatic or recurrent disease deemed incurable by standard therapies
• •Clinically and/or radiologically documented disease by at least 1 site that is unidimensionally measurable as follows:
• •* At least 20 mm by x-ray or physical exam
• •* At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• •* At least 20 mm by non-spiral CT scan
• •* Bone lesions are not considered measurable
• •* Outside previously irradiated area unless evidence of progression or new lesions within irradiated field
• •No known brain metastases
• •PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Age
• •18 and over
• •Performance status
• •ECOG 0-2
• •Life expectancy
• •At least 12 weeks
• •Hematopoietic
• •Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• •Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• •Hepatic
• •Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN)
• •AST no greater than 2.5 times ULN
• •Renal
• •Creatinine no greater than ULN
• •Cardiovascular
• •No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• •No unstable angina pectoris
• •No cardiac arrhythmia
• •Other
• •Not pregnant or nursing
• •Negative pregnancy test
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• •No prior allergic reactions to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to perifosine
• •No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated nonmelanoma skin cancer or curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• •No ongoing or active infection
• •No other concurrent uncontrolled medical illness, psychiatric illness, or social situation that would preclude study entry
• •PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• •Biologic therapy
• •At least 3 months since prior adjuvant immunotherapy
• •No prior immunotherapy for recurrent/metastatic disease
• •Chemotherapy
• •No prior chemotherapy (including regional therapy)
• •No other concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy
• •Endocrine therapy
• •Not specified
• •Radiotherapy
• •See Disease Characteristics
• •At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy (except for low-dose, nonmyelosuppressive radiotherapy)
• •Surgery
• •At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery
• •Other
• •No other concurrent anticancer therapy or investigational agents