Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage IIIB, Stage IV, or Recurrent Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer meeting 1 of the following stage criteria: Stage IIIB disease Stage IV disease Recurrent disease HLA-A2-positive disease HLA-A2 negative patients are eligible to enroll in group II (observation) only Measurable disease Estimated tumor volume ≤ 125 cc No CNS signs or symptoms of brain metastases Brain metastases that are clinically stable for ≥ 2 months AND do not require anticonvulsants or systemic steroids are allowed PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL Platelet count > 100,000/mm^3 WBC > 3,000/mm^3 Absolute neutrophil count > 1,500/mm^3 Absolute lymphocyte count > 500/mm^3 Hepatic AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN for patients with liver involvement by tumor) Bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dL (3.0 mg/dL for patients with liver involvement by tumor) Albumin ≥ 2.5 g/dL Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN No history of hepatitis B or C positivity Renal Creatinine ≤ 2 times ULN Immunologic No history of any of the following active conditions: Systemic lupus erythematosus Scleroderma Connective tissue disease Sjögren's syndrome Multiple sclerosis Rheumatoid arthritis Inflammatory bowel disease No history of HIV positivity No history of serious adverse reaction, including anaphylaxis, or hypersensitivity to study vaccine or to any of its components Other Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 weeks after completion of study treatment No other malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively excised nonmelanoma skin cancer or surgically cured carcinoma in situ of the cervix No other acute medical condition that would preclude study treatment No mental or psychiatric condition that would preclude study compliance PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy More than 1 month since prior interferon therapy More than 1 month since prior interleukin therapy No prior cancer vaccine therapy, including participation in a vaccine study Chemotherapy At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy See Disease Characteristics More than 1 month since prior systemic corticosteroids except stable doses of inhaled corticosteroids Radiotherapy At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery Not specified Other No concurrent participation in another investigational study