Continuation Protocol For G3139 (Bcl-2 Antisense Oligonucleotide) And Dacarbazine In Patients With Malignant Melanoma Who Responded To This Combination In Protocol GM301

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as dacarbazine, use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Oblimersen may help dacarbazine kill more tumor cells by making them more sensitive to the drug.

PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying how well giving oblimersen together with dacarbazine works in treating patients with advanced malignant melanoma that previously responded to treatment with oblimersen and dacarbazine on clinical trial GENTA-GM301.