Vaccine Therapy With or Without Interleukin-2 in Treating Patients With Metastatic Melanoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically proven metastatic melanoma that has failed therapy on protocols involving immunization against the gp100 molecule
* Measurable or evaluable metastatic disease
* Must be HLA-A201 positive by standard HLA typing

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

* Greater than 3 months

Hematopoietic:

* Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,000/mm\^3
* Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin greater than 8.0 g/dL

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
* ALT/AST less than 4 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 1.6 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

* For patients randomized to receive interleukin-2:

  * No major medical illnesses of the cardiovascular system

Pulmonary:

* For patients randomized to receive interleukin-2:

  * No major medical illnesses of the pulmonary system

Other:

* HIV negative
* Hepatitis B antigen negative
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* For patients randomized to receive interleukin-2:

  * No active systemic infection
  * No other major medical illnesses of immune system
  * No coagulation disorders

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy

Chemotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

* No concurrent steroid therapy

Radiotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

* Not specified

Other:

* No concurrent active treatment of brain metastases