Temozolomide, Thalidomide, and Lomustine in Treating Patients With Unresectable Stage III or Stage IV Melanoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed metastatic malignant melanoma Unresectable stage III OR stage IV disease Ocular, mucosal, and cutaneous melanoma allowed Measurable disease Indicator lesions within a prior radiotherapy field must have recent evidence of disease progression Indicator lesions must be distinct from the surgical and/or radiation changes induced by prior local therapies No more than 2 symptomatic hemorrhagic lesions in the brain No hemorrhagic lesion(s) greater than 1 cm in diameter PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status Karnofsky 80-100% Life expectancy Not specified Hematopoietic Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Hepatic Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) SGOT and SGPT no greater than 2 times ULN Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN Lactic dehydrogenase no greater than 2 times ULN Renal Creatinine no greater than 2 mg/dL Cardiovascular No history of severe cardiovascular disease No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months No unstable angina No New York Heart Association class III or IV congestive heart failure No ventricular arrhythmia No uncontrolled arrhythmia Gastrointestinal No frequent vomiting No other medical condition that would preclude oral medication intake (e.g., partial bowel obstruction) Other Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for 4 weeks after study participation HIV negative No AIDS-related illness No serious infection requiring IV antibiotics No other uncontrolled medical illness that would preclude study participation No other malignancy within the past 2 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or T1a or b prostate cancer meeting all of the following criteria: Detected incidentally at transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) Comprises less than 5% of resected tissue Prostate-specific antigen normal since TURP PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy At least 3 weeks since prior immunotherapy or biologic therapy No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy No prior systemic chemotherapy for melanoma No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy Not specified Radiotherapy See Disease Characteristics At least 3 weeks since prior focused radiotherapy for brain metastases At least 3 weeks since prior radiosurgery At least 4 weeks since prior whole brain radiotherapy At least 3 weeks since prior interstitial brachytherapy No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery See Disease Characteristics At least 3 weeks since prior surgery for brain metastases At least 3 weeks since prior surgery requiring general anesthesia Other Recovered from all prior therapies