Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage IV Melanoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed stage IV melanoma

Must have tumor tissue available for determining antigen expression

At least 10% of tumor cells must stain positive for Melan-A/Mart-1 by immunohistochemistry
HLA-A2 positive
No brain metastases unless completely resected or without evidence of disease after treatment

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Performance status:

ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

More than 3 months

Hematopoietic:

Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3
WBC at least 3,000/mm3
Platelet count at least 75,000/mm3
Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL

Hepatic:

SGOT and SGPT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN
Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times ULN
Hepatitis B surface antigen negative
Hepatitis C antibody negative

Renal:

Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN
Urea no greater than 2.6 times ULN

Other:

Not pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant within 6 months of treatment completion
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
HIV negative
No medical, sociological, or psychological impediments that would preclude study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy
At least 4 weeks since prior immunomodulatory drugs
No other concurrent immunotherapy
No concurrent immunomodulatory drugs

Chemotherapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy
No concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior systemic corticosteroids
No concurrent systemic corticosteroids

Radiotherapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

See Disease Characteristics

Other:

At least 4 weeks since prior investigational drugs
No other concurrent investigational drugs