Vaccine Therapy With or Without Biological Therapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic Melanoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically proven stage IV melanoma

Measurable disease

At least 1 lesion must be a minimum of 1.0 cm in diameter
Bone metastases are not considered to be measurable disease
No prior radiotherapy to area of measurable disease unless there is clearly progressive disease in this site or measurable disease exists outside the area of prior radiotherapy
HLA-A2 positive

No brain disease by MRI or CT scan within 4 weeks prior to randomization

Prior brain disease allowed if no evidence of active disease by 2 successive MRI evaluations completed at least 3 months apart

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Performance status:

ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

Not specified

Hematopoietic:

WBC at least 4,000/mm^3
Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3
Lymphocyte count greater than 700/mm ^3

Hepatic:

SGOT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
Bilirubin no greater than 2 times ULN
Alkaline phosphatase and lactic dehydrogenase no greater than 2 times ULN

Renal:

Creatinine no greater than 1.8 mg/dL

Other:

No significant detectable infection
HIV negative

No other malignancy within the past 5 years except:

Any carcinoma in situ
Lobular carcinoma in situ of the breast
Carcinoma in situ of the cervix
Atypical melanocytic hyperplasia
Melanoma in situ
Basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer
No autoimmune disorders or conditions of immunosuppression
Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

No prior MART-1:27-35, gp100:209-217 (210M), or tyrosinase:368-376 (370D) peptide
Greater than 4 weeks since prior adjuvant immunotherapy, including sargramostim (GM-CSF) or interferon alfa-2b

Chemotherapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin)

Endocrine therapy:

At least 2 weeks since prior and no concurrent systemic corticosteroids, including oral steroids (i.e., prednisone, dexamethasone); continuous use of topical steroid creams or ointments; or any inhalers containing steroids

Radiotherapy:

See Disease Characteristics
At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy for local control or palliation and recovered

Surgery:

Recovered from any prior major surgery