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

OBJECTIVES: * Compare the efficacy of gp100:209-217(210M) peptide and MART-1:26-35(27L) peptide administered with or without high-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) in patients with metastatic melanoma who are HLA-A0201 positive. * Determine the efficacy of these peptides in patients who cannot receive IL-2. * Compare the efficacy of IL-2 with or without these peptides in patients who need immediate treatment with IL-2. * Determine the efficacy of MART-1:26-35(27L) peptide in patients who have received prior gp100 antigen. * Compare the immunologic response experienced by patients who have received peptide, with or without IL-2, as measured by changes in T-cell precursors from before to after treatment. * Compare the toxic effects of these regimens in these patients. OUTLINE: This is a partially randomized study. Patients are assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups based on disease status and prior therapy. * Group A (eligible to receive interleukin-2 (IL-2) but not in immediate need; no prior immunization with gp100 or MART-1 antigen): Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. * Arm I: Patients receive gp100 and MART-1 peptides emulsified in Montanide ISA-51 (ISA-51) subcutaneously (SC) on day 1. (Arm I closed as of 10/30/02). * Arm II: Patients receive both peptides as in arm I on day 1 and high-dose IL-2 IV over 15 minutes every 8 hours on days 2-5 (for up to 12 doses). (Arm II closed as of 10/30/02). * Group B (ineligible to receive IL-2 due to other debilitating disease): Patients receive treatment as in group A, arm I. * Group C (need immediate IL-2 therapy due to extensive and rapid progression of disease): Patients receive treatment as in group A, arm II. (Group C closed as of 10/30/02). * Group D (prior immunization with gp100 antigen): Patients receive modified MART-1:26-35(27L) peptide emulsified in ISA-51 SC on day 1. Treatment in all groups repeats every 3 weeks for 4 courses. Patients who achieve a minor, mixed, or partial response may receive up to 12 additional courses. Patients who achieve complete response receive 2 additional courses. Patients are followed at 4-6 weeks. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 103 patients (15-25 for group A, arm I; 19-33 for group A, arm II; and 15 each for groups B, C, and D) will be accrued for this study within 1 year.