Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed cutaneous melanoma*

- Stage IV disease (i.e., distant metastasis)

- Not curable by surgical resection

- NOTE: *Metastatic melanoma with an unknown primary tumor allowed provided ocular
melanoma can be definitely excluded and origin from the skin is likely

- Unidimensionally or bidimensionally measurable disease by physical examination and/or
noninvasive radiological procedures

- At least 1 measurable metastasis that has not been previously excised or
biopsied

- Failed ≥ 1 standard chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy regimen (e.g., dacarbazine or
cisplatin monotherapy)

- At least 1 metastatic lesion surgically accessible* for excision or biopsy to obtain
tumor material for RNA isolation** NOTE: *Surgically accessible metastatic lesion not
required provided properly processed tumor material or isolated tumor RNA is
available from a metastasis excised or biopsied within the past 6 months

NOTE: **Major surgery not allowed for the acquisition of metastatic material solely for
RNA isolation

- No active CNS metastases by CT scan or MRI

- Previously treated CNS metastases (e.g., by excision of a single metastasis,
gamma knife radiosurgery, or stereotactic radiotherapy) allowed provided there
is no evidence of active CNS metastasis by CT scan or MRI

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

- Over 18

Performance status

- Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy

- At least 4 months

Hematopoietic

- WBC > 2,500/mm^3

- Neutrophil count > 1,000/mm^3

- Lymphocyte count > 700/mm^3

- Platelet count > 75,000/mm^3

- Hemoglobin > 9 g/dL

- No bleeding disorders

Hepatic

- Bilirubin < 2.0 mg/dL

- Hepatitis B surface antigen negative

- Hepatitis C antibody negative

Renal

- Creatinine < 2.5 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

- No clinically significant heart disease

Pulmonary

- No respiratory disease

Immunologic

- HIV-1 or -2 negative

- Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I negative

- No known hypersensitivity to dimethylsulfoxide

- No immunodeficiency disease

- No active systemic infection

- No active autoimmune disease (except vitiligo), including any of the following:

- Lupus erythematosus

- Scleroderma

- Rheumatoid arthritis (i.e., rheumatoid factor-positive arthritis with current or
recent flare)

- Ankylosing spondylitis

- Autoimmune thyroiditis or uveitis

- Autoimmune hemolytic anemia

- Immune thrombocytopenic purpura

- Multiple sclerosis

- Inflammatory bowel disease

Other

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile female patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 4 weeks
after completion of study treatment

- Willing to undergo excision or biopsy of metastasis

- Willing to be hospitalized for ≥ 24 hours after each vaccination

- Medical condition stable

- No contraindication to leukapheresis

- No organic brain syndrome

- No significant psychiatric abnormality that would preclude study participation

- No other active malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or
carcinoma in situ of the cervix

- No other major serious illness

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

- See Disease Characteristics

- More than 4 weeks since prior systemic immunotherapy

- No systemic immunotherapy during and for 2 weeks after completion of study treatment

Chemotherapy

- See Disease Characteristics

- More than 4 weeks since prior systemic chemotherapy

- No systemic chemotherapy during and for 2 weeks after completion of study treatment

Endocrine therapy

- No systemic corticosteroids, including steroid-containing inhalers or chronic use of
topical steroids over large areas of the body (if systemic effects are likely or
obvious) during and for 2 weeks after completion of study treatment

Radiotherapy

- See Disease Characteristics

- More than 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy

- No prior radiotherapy to the spleen

- Concurrent palliative radiotherapy to selected metastases for pain or local
complications (e.g., compression) allowed

Surgery

- See Disease Characteristics

- Recovered from prior surgery

- No prior splenectomy

- No prior organ allograft

- Concurrent palliative surgery to selected metastases for pain or local complications
(e.g., compression) allowed

Other

- Concurrent palliative hyperthermic therapy to selected metastases for pain or local
complications (e.g., compression) allowed

- No concurrent participation in any other clinical trial

- No other systemic immunosuppressive agents (e.g., azathioprine or cyclosporine)
during and for 2 weeks after completion of study treatment

- No other investigational drugs or paramedical substances during and for 2 weeks after
completion of study treatment