Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

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