DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed cutaneous malignant melanoma

  • Must meet one of the following criteria:

    • Clinical evidence of metastatic disease
    • Unresectable regional lymphatic disease
    • Extensive in transit recurrent disease

• Measurable disease

  • At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• No known brain metastases
• No ocular melanoma

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• Over 18

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-2 OR
• Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

• More than 6 months

Hematopoietic:

• WBC at least 3,000/mm^3
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3
• No clinical evidence of coagulopathy

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dL (3.0 mg/dL for patients with Gilbert's disease provided patient is stable and asymptomatic)
• AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN
• PT/INR less than 1.5

Renal:

• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min
• Protein < 1,000 mg on 24-hour urine collection for patients with proteinuria ≥ 1+

Cardiovascular:

• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris
• No cardiac arrhythmia

• No history of thrombosis (e.g., deep vein thrombosis), unless the following criteria are met:

  • INR in normal range (usually 2-3) AND on a stable dose of warfarin or low molecular weight heparin
  • No active bleeding or pathologic condition that would confer a high risk of bleeding (e.g., known varices or tumor involving major vessels)
• No uncontrolled hypertension

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No prior allergic reactions to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to bevacizumab or interferon alfa
• No ongoing or active infection
• No other concurrent uncontrolled illness
• No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
• HIV allowed provided otherwise well

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior adjuvant interferon alfa
• No prior interferon alfa for metastatic disease

• No prior cytokine therapy for metastatic disease (e.g., high-dose interleukin-2 [IL-2])

  • Prior IL-2 allowed for patients randomized to arm III only
• No prior investigational antiangiogenic agents

Chemotherapy:

• No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for metastatic disease
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

• Not specified

Other:

• No other concurrent investigational agents