Monoclonal Antibody and Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Melanoma That Has Been Removed During Surgery

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