Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed previously resected stage III primary cutaneous melanoma or
unknown primary with regional lymph node involvement

- N1 disease

- Microscopic, nonpalpable nodal involvement

- Primary melanoma of any stage with clinically inapparent N1 regional lymph
node metastases (T1-4, N1, M0) detected by elective lymph node dissection
or sentinel node biopsy

- N2 disease

- Palpable nodal involvement with synchronous primary melanoma or apparent
nodal disease after prior excision (any pT, N2, M0)

- Regional lymph node recurrence at any interval after surgery for primary
melanoma of any depth (T1-4, rN2, M0)

- Complete resection of primary melanoma with adequate surgical margins

- Full lymphadenectomy must be performed within 70 days of study

- No mucous membrane melanoma or ocular melanoma

- No evidence of distant or nonregional lymph node metastases or in transit metastases
(even if previously resected)

- No incompletely resected disease due to gross extracapsular extension

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 to 70

Performance status:

- ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

- Not specified

Hematopoietic:

- WBC at least 3,000/mm^3

- Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm^3

- Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL

Hepatic:

- SGOT and SGPT less than 2 times upper limit of normal

- No active hepatitis

Renal:

- Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

- No severe cardiovascular disease including the following:

- Arrhythmias requiring chronic treatment

- Congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association class III or IV)

- Symptomatic ischemic heart disease

Other:

- No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except surgically cured
nonmelanomatous skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix

- No thyroid dysfunction unresponsive to therapy

- No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus

- No active autoimmune disease

- No active and/or uncontrolled infection

- No history of neuropsychiatric disorder requiring hospitalization

- No known active alcohol or drug abuse

- HIV negative

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- No prior interferon alfa

- No prior immunotherapy for melanoma

- No other concurrent immunologic or biologic therapy

- No concurrent colony stimulating factors including epoetin alfa and filgrastim
(G-CSF)

Chemotherapy:

- No prior chemotherapy for melanoma

- No concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

- No prior hormonal therapy for melanoma

- No concurrent hormonal therapy

- No concurrent chronic systemic corticosteroid therapy

Radiotherapy:

- No prior radiotherapy for melanoma

- No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

- See Disease Characteristics

- Recovered from any prior recent surgery

Other:

- At least 30 days since other prior experimental therapy

- No other concurrent investigational drugs