Drosophila-generated CTL

Background: * Adoptive transfer studies in patients with metastatic melanoma following lymphodepletion have resulted in up to 50% objective response rates with a 10-15% rate of complete responses. * A novel method involves the use of insect cell lines which do not express any native major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. * When stably transfected with human MHC molecules and appropriate adhesion and costimulatory molecules, a Drosophila cell line can potently stimulate tumor-reactivity in vitro from human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). * The current proposed transfer of Drosophila-cell stimulated autologous cluster of differentiation 8 (CD8) plus PBL administered in conjunction with a lymphodepleting preparative regimen, with or without low-dose aldesleukin would represent a significantly novel approach to adoptive immunotherapy. Objectives: * To determine whether infusion of CD8+ autologous PBL sensitized in vitro with peptide pulsed HLA-A2-expressing Drosophila cells (CTL-05) and administered in combination with a lymphodepleting preparative regimen and supportive systemic aldesleukin can result in clinical tumor regression in human leukocyte antigen serotype within HLA-A A serotype group (HLA-A2+) patients with metastatic melanoma. * To determine the safety of the above regimen. * To investigate the contribution of low-dose systemic aldesleukin to cell efficacy. Eligibility: Patients who are HLA-A\*0201 positive and 18 years of age or older must have * metastatic melanoma with measurable disease * been previously treated with aldesleukin for melanoma; * normal basic laboratory values. Patients may not have: * concurrent major medical illnesses; * any form of primary or secondary immunodeficiency; * requirement for systemic steroid therapy Design: * The first 20 patients enrolled (cohort 0) will receive a non-myeloablative lymphocyte depleting preparative regimen followed by administration of intravenous CTL-05 and low-dose subcutaneous aldesleukin (daily for 5 days). * If 3 or more of the 20 patients respond, subsequent patients will be randomized between two cohorts. Patients in cohort 1 will receive a non-myeloablative lymphocyte depleting preparative regimen followed by administration of CTL-05 and low-dose subcutaneous aldesleukin (daily for 5 days). Patients in Cohort 2 will receive a non-myeloablative lymphocyte depleting preparative regimen followed by administration of CTL-05 and NO subsequent aldesleukin. * A complete evaluation will be conducted 8 weeks (plus or minus 2 weeks) after the initiation of chemotherapy. The trial will be conducted using a small Simon MinMax Phase II design in the initial phase and a Simon optimal design in the second phase. A maximum of 35 patients may be accrued to each of cohorts 1 and 2. If no responses are seen in the first 13 patients receiving no systemic aldesleukin, then accrual to that cohort will cease. Total enrollment may be up to 90 patients.