Hepatic Arterial Infusion With Melphalan Compared With Standard Therapy in Treating Patients With Unresectable Liver Metastases Due to Melanoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed liver metastases secondary to cutaneous or ocular melanoma * Unresectable disease * Predominantly in the parenchyma of the liver * Measurable disease by CT scan and/or MRI * Limited unresectable extrahepatic disease allowed provided the life-limiting component of progressive disease is in the liver, including, but not limited to, any of the following: * Up to 4 pulmonary nodules, each \< 1 cm in diameter * Retroperitoneal lymph nodes \< 3 cm in diameter * Less than 10 skin or subcutaneous metastases \< 1 cm in diameter * Asymptomatic bone metastases that are eligible for or have undergone palliative external-beam radiotherapy * Solitary metastasis to any site that can be resected PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Life expectancy ≥ 3 months * ECOG performance status 0-2 * Bilirubin \< 3.0 mg/dL * PT within 2 seconds of upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST/ALT ≤ 10 times ULN * Platelet count \> 75,000/mm\^3 * Hematocrit \> 27% (may be achieved with a transfusion) * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,300/mm\^3 * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance \> 60 mL/min * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * No history of congestive heart failure * LVEF ≥ 40% * No significant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or other chronic pulmonary restrictive disease * FEV\_1 ≥ 30% * DLCO ≥ 40% of predicted * Weight ≥ 35 kg * No untreated ac…