Intravenous or Hepatic Arterial Infusion of Fotemustine in Treating Patients With Unresectable Liver Metastases From Eye Melanoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed liver metastases secondary to uveal melanoma * Surgically incurable or unresectable disease * No detectable extrahepatic metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * WHO 0-2 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 2,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL Hepatic * Bilirubin \< 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * ALT and AST \< 5 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase \< 5 times ULN * Gamma-glutamyltransferase \< 5 times ULN * Lactic dehydrogenase \< 5 times ULN Renal * BUN \< 1.5 times ULN * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular * No uncontrolled angina pectoris * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No uncontrolled high blood pressure * No evolutive intracranial hypertension * No other severe cardiac disease Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No active gastroduodenal ulcer * No diabetes * No active or uncontrolled infection * No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition that would preclude study compliance and follow-up * No other uncontrolled severe medical condition * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except surgically cured carcinoma in situ of the cervix or basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * No concurrent immunolog…