Interferon Alfa-2b With or Without Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Melanoma That Has Metastasized to Lymph Nodes in the Neck, Under the Arm, or in the Groin

OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the effectiveness of postoperative hypofractionated radiotherapy in combination with high dose interferon in preventing regional relapse in patients with malignant melanoma with any number of nodes with clinical extracapsular extension or previous nodal basin recurrence. II. Evaluate the effectiveness of this therapy in prolonging relapse free and overall survival in this patient population. III. Evaluate the toxicity of this therapy in this patient population. OUTLINE: This is a randomized study. Patients are stratified according to prior nodal basin recurrence, site of disease, and extracapsular extension. Following surgery, patients are randomized to receive either interferon alfa-2b alone or five treatments of radiotherapy followed by interferon alfa-2b. Patients receive radiotherapy 2 days a week for 2.5 weeks. Patients receive interferon alfa-2b IV over 20 minutes daily for 5 days for a total of 28 days, followed by subcutaneous injections 3 times a week for 48 weeks. Patients are followed every 3 months for 2 years, then every 6 months for 3 years, then annually thereafter. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Approximately 167 patients will be accrued for this study within 3 years.