DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed stage IV melanoma that is recurrent or progressing and unlikely to respond to existing therapy

• Measurable disease by MRI or CT scan

  • Tumor must be at least 2 cm in the lymph nodes in the head, neck, axillary, inguinal, or femoral areas and at least 0.5 cm in other locations

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

• At least 2 months

Hematopoietic:

• WBC at least 2,000/mm3
• Platelet count at least 50,000/mm3

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL
• SGOT and SGPT no greater than 5 times the upper limit of normal
• No hepatic insufficiency

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL
• No renal insufficiency
• No renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Cardiovascular:

• No chronic heart failure
• No uncontrolled hypertension
• No history of congestive heart failure
• No other cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Pulmonary:

• No severe lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study
• No serious medical or psychiatric disorders
• No active infection

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered
• No concurrent immunomodulating agents

Chemotherapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) and recovered
• No concurrent antineoplastic agents

Endocrine therapy:

• Concurrent corticosteroids allowed

Radiotherapy:

• At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered (patients with multiple tumors who have received radiotherapy to some, but not all, tumors may be admitted earlier than 8 weeks)

Surgery:

• Recovered from prior surgery

Other:

• Prior cytodifferentiating agent allowed
• No prior antineoplaston therapy