Vaccine Therapy Plus Interleukin-2 in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Melanoma

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed stage III or IV melanoma gp100 positive tumor cells and/or tyrosinase positive tumor cells HLA type A1, A2, or A3 Measurable disease May have up to 3 brain metastases if all are less than 2 cm in diameter and are asymptomatic, and there is no mass effect or they have been treated successfully by surgical excision or by gamma knife radiation therapy
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 to 79 Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,000/mm3 Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin greater than 9 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular: No New York Heart Association class II, III, or IV heart disease Other: No known or suspected allergy to any component of the vaccine No medical condition that would preclude study Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 3 months since prior growth factors At least 3 months since prior agents with putative immunomodulating activity (except nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents) At least 1 year since other prior melanoma vaccinations Chemotherapy: At least 3 months since prior chemotherapy No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: At least 3 months since prior corticosteroids No concurrent corticosteroids Radiotherapy: At least 3 months since prior radiotherapy No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Other: At least 3 months since other prior investigational drugs or therapy At least 3 months since prior allergy desensitization injections At least 14 days since completion of acute treatment for a serious infection No concurrent allergy desensitization injections