Therapeutic Autologous Lymphocytes, Cyclophosphamide, and Aldesleukin in Treating Patients With Metastatic Melanoma

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. Assess the safety and toxicity of adoptively transferred interleukin (IL)-21 modulated cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) targeting a melanoma associated antigen in patients following cyclophosphamide conditioning. II. Evaluate the functional and numeric in vivo persistence of adoptively transferred IL-21 modulated CTL and factors contributing to immunopotentiation in patients receiving IL-21 modulated CTL following cyclophosphamide conditioning. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the antitumor effect of adoptively transferred IL-21 modulated CD8+ antigen-specific CTL following cyclophosphamide conditioning and post-infusion IL-2. OUTLINE: Patients receive cyclophosphamide intravenously (IV) on days -3 and -2 followed by an infusion of IL-21 modulated, melanoma antigen recognized by T cell (MART)-1 specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes over 30-60 minutes on day 0. Beginning within 24 hours of T-cell infusion, patients receive low-dose aldesleukin subcutaneously (SC) twice daily (BID) for 14 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed for 8-10 weeks.