Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Diagnosis of operable stage IB, II, or IIIA non-small cell lung cancer

- Tumor diameter of at least 3 cm

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 to 75

Performance status:

- ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

- At least 3 months

Hematopoietic:

- WBC at least 3,000/mm^3

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

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL

- AST less than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- Lactate dehydrogenase less than 2 times ULN

- Hepatitis B and C negative

Renal:

- Creatinine no greater than 1.4 mg/dL

Other:

- Positive cell mediated immunity test (i.e., greater than 5 mm induration in 48 hours
with purified protein derivative (of tuberculin), candida, and mumps intradermal
injection skin test)

- HIV negative

- No active systemic infection

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- At least 4 weeks since prior biological materials

Chemotherapy:

- At least 4 weeks since prior cytotoxic or chemotherapeutic agents

- Concurrent chemotherapy allowed after surgery and before vaccination

Endocrine therapy:

- No concurrent steroid therapy

Radiotherapy:

- At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

- Concurrent radiotherapy allowed after surgery and before vaccination

Surgery:

- See Disease Characteristics