Monoclonal Antibody and Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Melanoma That Has Been Removed During Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed completely resected stage III or IV melanoma

Mucosal or ocular subtypes allowed
HLA-A2 positive
Positive staining of tumor tissue with antibody HMB-45 for gp100, tyrosinase, and/or MART-1
Failed (or ineligible for or refusal of) interferon alfa

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

Not specified

Performance status:

Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

At least 12 months

Hematopoietic:

WBC at least 2,500/mm^3
Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3
Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL
Hematocrit at least 30%

Hepatic:

Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN)
AST no greater than 1.25 times ULN
Hepatitis B surface antigen negative
Hepatitis C antibody nonreactive

Renal:

Creatinine less than 1.25 times ULN

Immunologic:

Antinuclear antibody (ANA) negative OR

If ANA positive, must be:

Antithyroglobulin antibody negative
Rheumatoid factor negative
Anti-LKM antibody negative
Anti-phospholipid antibody negative
Anti-islet cell antibody negative
Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody negative
HIV negative
No autoimmune disease (e.g., uveitis or autoimmune inflammatory eye disease)
No active infection
No hypersensitivity to tyrosinase:368-376, gp100:209-217, MART-1:26-35, or Montanide ISA-51

Other:

No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, superficial bladder cancer, or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
No underlying medical condition that would preclude study
Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

See Disease Characteristics
No prior anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 monoclonal antibody
No prior tyrosinase, gp100, or MART-1 peptide
No prior antitumor vaccination
No prior interleukin-2
At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy for melanoma

Chemotherapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy for melanoma

Endocrine therapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior hormonal therapy for melanoma
At least 4 weeks since prior corticosteroids
No concurrent systemic or topical corticosteroids

Radiotherapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy for melanoma

Surgery:

See Disease Characteristics

Other:

No prior cytotoxic therapy
At least 4 weeks since any other prior therapy for melanoma
Concurrent analgesics allowed if on stable dose for at least 2 weeks before study