PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy (including interferon or interleukin-2) for melanoma patients No other concurrent anticancer immunotherapy Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy for melanoma patients except adjuvant or local chemotherapy (extracorporeal circulation) At least 4 weeks since prior adjuvant or local chemotherapy if presence of measurable lesions outside the treated limb (6 months if no presence of measurable lesions outside the treated limb) No prior chemotherapy for NSCLC except platinum compounds used as radiosensitizer At least 4 weeks since prior platinum compounds No other concurrent anticancer chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Concurrent radiotherapy allowed for bone pain or other reasons No irradiation of all evaluable lesions Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Other: At least 4 weeks since other prior investigational drugs No other concurrent investigational drugs No concurrent anticoagulants except heparin used to prevent occlusion of IV lines during week(s) off treatment