Photodynamic Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Melanoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Diagnosis of stage III or IV melanoma At least 3 cutaneous tumors for treatment (treatment tumors) AND 1-7 additional cutaneous, visceral, or lymph node tumors for response assessment (marker tumors) Treatment tumors must be on trunk, arms, or legs AND be 1.0-3.6 cm in longest dimension Measurable disease by calipers or CT scan No CNS metastases by CT scan PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC at least 2,500/mm3 Neutrophil count at least 1,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 50,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL Hematocrit at least 27% Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AST/ALT no greater than 2 times ULN Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy or immunotherapy No concurrent biologic therapy Chemotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: No concurrent surgical removal of melanoma lesions designated for treatment or response assessment Other: No other concurrent therapy for melanoma