Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed primary stage II melanoma greater than 1.5 mm without
evidence of lymph node metastases

- T3 or T4, N0, M0

- Must originate in the skin

- Wide excision with a minimum of 1-2 cm margin surrounding primary lesion or biopsy
scar

- No more than 56 days since definitive surgical treatment (wide excision)

- No more than 12 weeks since primary surgery

- No clinical, radiological, or pathological evidence of incompletely resected disease,
lymph node metastases, in-transit metastasis, or any distant metastatic disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 to 80

Performance status:

- ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

- Not specified

Hematopoietic:

- WBC at least 3,000/mm^3

- Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

- Hemoglobin at least 9.8 g/dL

Hepatic:

- SGOT/SGPT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN

- LDH no greater than 2 times ULN

- Bilirubin no greater than 2 times ULN

- Hepatitis B and C negative

Renal:

- Creatinine normal

Other:

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- No prior or other concurrent cancer except carcinoma in situ of the cervix or basal
or squamous cell skin cancer

- No autoimmune disorders

- No conditions requiring systemic treatment with immunosuppressive drugs including
treatment with systemic corticosteroids

- No history of CNS demyelinating or inflammatory disease

- No hereditary or acquired peripheral neuropathy

- No other significant medical or surgical condition or psychiatric disorders requiring
medication that would preclude study

- No history of severe allergic reaction to shellfish

- HIV negative

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- No prior immunotherapy

- No other concurrent biologic therapy

Chemotherapy:

- No prior systemic chemotherapy

- No concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

- No concurrent hormonal therapy except replacement therapy

- No concurrent corticosteroids

- No concurrent chronic systemic steroids

Radiotherapy:

- No prior adjuvant radiotherapy

- No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

- See Disease Characteristics

Other:

- No prior preoperative infusion or perfusion therapy

- No concurrent immunosuppressive medications

- No other concurrent anticancer therapy