OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the maximum tolerated dose of ganciclovir administered IV every 12 hours for 7 days in combination with adenovirus RSV-TK administered by direct intralesional injection in patients with cutaneous or subcutaneous metastatic malignant melanoma. II. Determine the dose limiting toxicities of this regimen in this patient population. III. Evaluate the response (both local and at distant metastatic sites), duration of response, response by ganciclovir dose, and any impact local treatment with adenovirus RSV-TK and ganciclovir "suicide" gene therapy may have on overall survival in these patients.