Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Melanoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed melanoma Stage III (lymph node or in-transit metastases) or IV (systemic metastases) disease Patients with relapsed disease OR who failed prior immunotherapy or chemotherapy are eligible (but trial not restricted to relapsed or refractory disease) Tumor tissue available and properly stored for lysate preparation PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,000/mm^3 Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm^3 Hepatic AST ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (3 times ULN for liver metastases) Bilirubin ≤ 2 times ULN Hepatitis B surface antigen negative Hepatitis C negative Renal Creatinine ≤ 2.0 times ULN Immunologic No active infection No history of autoimmune disease, including any of the following: Inflammatory bowel disease Systemic lupus erythematosus Scleroderma Rheumatoid arthritis Multiple sclerosis No allergy to aminoglycosides or streptomycin HIV negative Other Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No significant comorbid illness No other malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy See Disease Characteristics At least 10 days since prior immunotherapy Chemotherapy See Disease Characteristics Endocrine therapy At least 6 weeks since prior steroid therapy No concurrent corticosteroids Radiotherapy At least 10 days since prior radiotherapy No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery At least 10 days since prior surgery Prior diagnostic or palliative surgery allowed provided the patient has fully recovered Other No concurrent immunosuppressive or potentially immunosuppressive therapy