Evaluation of Interferon Alpha-2b and Thalidomide in Patients with Disseminated Malignant Melanoma, Phase II

Pts. must have histologically proven, pathologically verified and surgically incurable malignant melanoma, Stage IV; pts. must have measurable or non-measurable disease by CT, MRI, X-Ray or physical exam; CT or MRI of brain must be negative for mets; history of brain mets allowed only if completely resected and completely free of disease after whole brain XRT; pts. must have received only one prior systemic therapy (chemo, biologic/immuno, hormone or combination regimen) for metastatic dz; pts. must have recovered from all adverse effects of prior treatment(s) prior to registration; SGOT and/or SGPT <= 2.5 IULN and bilirubin <= IULN; ANC >= 1,000 and platelets >= 75,000; Zubrod PS 0-2; pts. w/known AIDS or HIV-1 assoc. complex or known to be HIV sero+ are ineligible; pts. must not be pregnant or nursing, or of reproductive potential and not agreed to use effective contraceptive method; female pts. of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test; pts. must not be planning to receive concomitant biologic therapy, RT, hormonal therapy, other chemo, surgery or other therapy while on study; pts. must not have prior malignancy other than adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin ca, in situ cervical ca, adequately treated Stage I or II ca from which the patient is currently in complete remission, or any ca from which the pt. has been disease-free for 5 yrs; pts. must not have >= Grade 1 "Neuropathy-sensory" according to the NCI CTC version 2.0; pts. must not have a history of seizures or a potential for the development of seizures.