RATIONALE: Inserting the gene for interleukin-2 into a person's melanoma cells may make the body build an immune response to kill tumor cells.

PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of gene therapy in treating patients who have metastatic melanoma.

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the maximum tolerated dose of liposome complexed staphylococcal enterotoxin B and interleukin-2 plasmid DNA in patients with metastatic melanoma. II. Determine local gene expression in tumor tissues in this patient population treated with this regimen. III. Determine if plasmid DNA can be detected in circulation following intratumoral injection of this regimen in this patient population. IV. Evaluate the antitumor immune responses induced by this treatment regimen in these patients. V. Characterize the clinical response to this treatment regimen in terms of tumor size and histology in these patients. VI. Determine the clinical response to this treatment regimen in terms of complete remission, partial remission, stable disease, and disease progression in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a dose escalation study. Patients receive intratumoral liposome complexed staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) plasmid DNA injections into 1-3 tumor nodules once every 2 weeks. Treatment continues for 6 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients with complete regression during therapy may receive additional therapy to previously untreated tumor nodules. Patients with partial response at 4 weeks following the last injection may continue therapy once every 4 weeks until no residual tumor remains. Cohorts of 3 patients each receive escalating doses of SEB and IL-2 plasmid DNA until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose at which at least 2 of 6 patients experience dose limiting toxicities. Patients are followed until death.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 18 patients will be accrued for this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed metastatic melanoma unresponsive to standard therapy or for which no curative therapy exists No primary ocular melanoma At least one cutaneous metastatic lesion measuring at least 1 cm in diameter No untreated brain metastases by MRI or CT scan

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: SWOG 0-1 Life expectancy: Greater than 2 months Hematopoietic: WBC greater than 3,000/mm3 Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL No active, acute, or chronic hepatitis Renal: Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No unstable angina or complicated cardiovascular disease that would preclude catheterization Immunologic: No active autoimmune disease or infection Peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferative response to 1 microgram/mL staphylococcal enterotoxin B in vitro, with a stimulation index of at least 5 Other: HIV negative No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus No psychiatric illness that would preclude study Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No other malignancy except nonmelanomatous skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since other prior anticancer therapy No concurrent glucocorticosteroids