PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:~I. Compare the response rate (confirmed and unconfirmed and complete and partial) in patients with unresectable stage IV malignant melanoma treated with sorafenib in combination with either temsirolimus or tipifarnib.~II. Compare the 4-month progression-free survival rate of patients treated with these regimens.~III. Compare the safety and tolerability of these regimens, with an emphasis on long-term side effects and toxic effects, in these patients.~OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to metastatic (M) stage (M1a/b vs M1c). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.~ARM I (reopened to accrual as of 8/15/2009): Patients receive oral sorafenib twice daily on days 1-28 and temsirolimus IV over 30 minutes on days 1, 8, 15, and 22.~ARM II (closed to accrual as of 8/15/2009): Patients receive oral sorafenib as in arm I and oral tipifarnib twice daily on days 1-21.~In both arms, courses repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.~After completion of study treatment, patients are followed periodically for up to 3 years.
This randomized phase II trial is studying how well giving sorafenib together with either temsirolimus or tipifarnib works in treating patients with stage IV melanoma that cannot be removed by surgery. Sorafenib, temsirolimus, and tipifarnib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Sorafenib and tipifarnib may also stop the growth of tumor by blocking blood flow to the tumor. It is not yet known whether sorafenib is more effective when given together with temsirolimus or tipifarnib in treating patients with malignant melanoma.