Monoclonal Antibody Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage IV Melanoma

Inclusion Criteria

• •DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Histologically confirmed melanoma
• •* Stage IV disease (M1a and M1b only)
• •Measurable disease according to RECIST criteria
• •HLA-A2 positive
• •Must have IgA in serum (any concentration)
• •No known standard therapy for this disease that is potentially curative or proven capable of extending life expectancy
• •PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• •ECOG performance status 0-2
• •Hemoglobin ≥ 10.0 g/dL
• •Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm\^3
• •AST ≤ 5 times upper limit of normal
• •Not pregnant or nursing
• •Negative pregnancy test
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• •Able to provide informed consent
• •Agrees to return to Mayo Clinic Rochester for follow-up
• •Agrees to participate in the mandatory translational research component of the study
• •No uncontrolled or current infection
• •No known immune deficiency
• •No B or AB blood grouping
• •PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• •More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered
• •More than 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy
• •No concurrent immunosuppressive therapy