Isolated Limb Infusion of Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Melanoma or Soft Tissue Sarcoma of the Arm or Leg That Cannot Be Removed By Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically proven primary or recurrent, regional melanoma or soft tissue sarcoma that is not amenable to surgical resection * Majority (greater than 95%) of disease must be distal to the apex of the femoral triangle in the lower limb and the deltoid insertion in the upper limb * Bidimensionally measurable disease in the extremity * Patients with disease beyond the limb are eligible if their extremity disease requires palliative treatment in the judgment of their physician PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * Over 18 Performance status: * Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: * At least 6 months Hematopoietic: * WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Not specified Renal: * Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: * Must have palpable femoral/axillary, dorsalis pedis/popliteal, or radial pulses in the extremity to be treated * No signs or symptoms of vascular insufficiency (no history of claudication or other ischemic peripheral vascular disease) Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * No other concurrent serious illness * No severe diabetes * No prior extremity complications due to diabetes PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Not specified Chemotherapy * Not specified Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * Not specified Surgery * Not specified Other * At least 4 weeks since prior antitumor therapy and recovered * At least 2 weeks since prior antibiotics