Vaccine Therapy and Resiquimod in Treating Patients With Stage II-IV Melanoma That Has Been Removed By Surgery

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the immune response of each immunization regimen and determine an optimal regimen in terms of immune response to recommend for phase II testing. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the adverse events profile of each immunization regimen. II. Evaluate disease-free survival. TERTIARY OBJECTIVES: I. Describe the immunological efficacy of the vaccine preparations with Gag267-274 (Gag:267-274 peptide vaccine) and resiquimod, as measured by the frequency and interferon (IFN)gamma production of peptide-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). II. Examine immune responses to the tumor antigen analog MART-1a (MART-1 antigen) versus the xenoantigen Gag267-274. OUTLINE: Patients are assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups. ARM I: Patients receive MART-1 antigen and Gag:267-274 peptide vaccine emulsified in Montanide ISA 51 VG subcutaneously (SC) on day 1. ARM II: Patients receive MART-1 antigen emulsified in Montanide ISA 51 VG SC followed by resiquimod applied topically on day 1. ARM III: Patients receive MART-1 antigen and Gag:267-274 peptide vaccine emulsified in Montanide ISA 51 VG SC followed by resiquimod applied topically on day 1. In all arms, treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 3 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 months.