Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed completely resected stage III or IV melanoma

- Mucosal or ocular subtypes allowed

- HLA-A2 positive

- Positive staining of tumor tissue with antibody HMB-45 for gp100, tyrosinase, and/or
MART-1

- Failed (or ineligible for or refusal of) interferon alfa

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- Not specified

Performance status:

- Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

- At least 12 months

Hematopoietic:

- WBC at least 2,500/mm^3

- Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3

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

- Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL

- Hematocrit at least 30%

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN)

- AST no greater than 1.25 times ULN

- Hepatitis B surface antigen negative

- Hepatitis C antibody nonreactive

Renal:

- Creatinine less than 1.25 times ULN

Immunologic:

- Antinuclear antibody (ANA) negative OR

- If ANA positive, must be:

- Antithyroglobulin antibody negative

- Rheumatoid factor negative

- Anti-LKM antibody negative

- Anti-phospholipid antibody negative

- Anti-islet cell antibody negative

- Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody negative

- HIV negative

- No autoimmune disease (e.g., uveitis or autoimmune inflammatory eye disease)

- No active infection

- No hypersensitivity to tyrosinase:368-376, gp100:209-217, MART-1:26-35, or Montanide
ISA-51

Other:

- No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or
squamous cell skin cancer, superficial bladder cancer, or carcinoma in situ of the
cervix

- No underlying medical condition that would preclude study

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- See Disease Characteristics

- No prior anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 monoclonal antibody

- No prior tyrosinase, gp100, or MART-1 peptide

- No prior antitumor vaccination

- No prior interleukin-2

- At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy for melanoma

Chemotherapy:

- At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy for melanoma

Endocrine therapy:

- At least 4 weeks since prior hormonal therapy for melanoma

- At least 4 weeks since prior corticosteroids

- No concurrent systemic or topical corticosteroids

Radiotherapy:

- At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy for melanoma

Surgery:

- See Disease Characteristics

Other:

- No prior cytotoxic therapy

- At least 4 weeks since any other prior therapy for melanoma

- Concurrent analgesics allowed if on stable dose for at least 2 weeks before study