Bortezomib, Paclitaxel, and Carboplatin in Treating Patients With Metastatic Melanoma

Criteria: No uncontrolled intercurrent illness including any of the following: ongoing or active infection; symptomatic congestive heart failure; unstable angina pectoris; cardiac arrhythmia No psychiatric illness that would limit compliance with study requirements No other uncontrolled serious medical conditions (e.g., diabetes) No more than 1 prior cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen No more than 2 prior immunotherapy regimens either in adjuvant or metastatic setting At least 4 weeks since prior major radiotherapy or chemotherapy At least 8 weeks since prior monoclonal antibody therapy At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy or biologic therapy At least 3 weeks since prior surgery Recovered from prior therapies No prior therapy with bortezomib, paclitaxel, or carboplatin No other prior or concurrent chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, or any other therapy or supportive care considered investigational No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients No concurrent prophylactic colony-stimulating factors Histologically confirmed malignant melanoma Patients with significant fluid retention, including ascites or pleural effusion, may be allowed at the discretion of the principal investigator No known brain metastases by brain imaging with contrast Absolute neutrophil count >= 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count >= 100,000/mm^3 Routine urine analysis with predicted 24-hour urine protein < 500 mg OR 1+ proteinuria by urine dipstick with 24-hour urine protein < 500 mg Total bilirubin < 1.5 mg/dL AST =< 3 times ULN Creatinine =< 1.5 times ULN ECOG performance status (PS) 0, 1, or 2 (Karnofsky PS >= 60%) Life expectancy by physician estimate > 12 weeks Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after completion of study treatment Negative pregnancy test No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to bortezomib No peripheral neuropathy >= grade 2 Manifestations of stage IV disease (e.g., cutaneous, uveal) All melanomas, regardless of origin, allowed Measurable disease, defined as at least one lesion whose longest diameter can be accurately measured as >= 2.0 cm with conventional techniques or as >= 1.0 cm with spiral CT scan No nonmeasurable disease only, including any of the following: bone lesions, leptomeningeal disease, ascites, pleural/pericardial effusion, inflammatory breast disease, lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis, abdominal masses that are not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques, cystic lesions Hemoglobin >= 9.0 g/dL