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