Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic Melanoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed metastatic melanoma that has failed standard treatment No ocular or mucosal melanoma as primary site Measurable disease No existing brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 16 and over Performance status: ECOG 0 or 1 Life expectancy: More than 3 months Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 90,000/mm3 No coagulation disorder Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.6 mg/dL AST/ALT less than 3 times normal Hepatitis B surface antigen negative Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.6 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No major cardiovascular illness Pulmonary: No major respiratory illness Immunologic: HIV negative No autoimmune disease No primary or secondary immunodeficiency No allergy to eggs No history of allergy or untoward reaction to prior smallpox vaccination Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception Must be able to avoid close contact with children under 5 years, pregnant women, people with active or a past history of eczema or other eczematoid skin disorders, and immunosuppressed people for at least 2 weeks after each vaccinia virus vaccination No active systemic infections No active atopic dermatitis or active or past history of eczema No concurrent active extensive psoriasis, severe acneiform rash, impetigo, varicella zoster, burns, or other traumatic or pruritic skin conditions or open wounds Surgical scars must be healed Healed surgical stomas (e.g., colostomy) allowed PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior recombinant vaccinia or fowlpox vaccines for melanoma At least 3 weeks since prior systemic biologic therapy for melanoma Chemotherapy: At least 3 weeks since prior systemic chemotherapy for melanoma Endocrine therapy: At least 3 weeks since prior systemic endocrine therapy for melanoma No concurrent steroid therapy Radiotherapy: At least 3 weeks since prior systemic radiotherapy for melanoma Surgery: Prior surgery allowed