Biological Therapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic Melanoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histopathologically proven metastatic melanoma No CNS metastases HLA-A2 positive Bidimensionally measurable disease by palpation on clinical exam or radiographic imaging (x-ray, CT scan, or MRI) Surgically accessible site for tumor cell procurement (skin, subcutaneous nodule, or superficial node) and patient clinically eligible for such surgery PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 to 75 Performance status Karnofsky 80-100% Life expectancy More than 16 weeks Hematopoietic WBC greater than 4,000/mm^3 Absolute neutrophil count greater than 2,000/mm^3 Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm^3 Hematocrit greater than 30% Hepatic Bilirubin no greater than 1.6 mg/dL SGOT no greater than 150 IU (or no greater than 3 times normal) Prothrombin time no greater than 1.5 times control Renal Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Calcium no greater than 12 mg/dL Cardiovascular No congestive heart failure No clinically significant hypotension No symptoms of coronary artery disease No arrhythmia on EKG requiring drug therapy Pulmonary No severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease FEV_1 at least 1.0 L DLCO at least 45% of predicted Other No active infection or oral temperature greater than 38.2 degrees C within 72 hours of study No systemic infection requiring chronic maintenance or suppressive therapy HIV negative No history of seizures No retinitis or choroiditis Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use adequate contraception Peripheral blood samples available weekly for 4 consecutive weeks PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy At least 4 weeks since other prior immunotherapy Chemotherapy 1 or 2 courses of cytoreductive chemotherapy allowed for bulky disease At least 4 weeks since prior standard or investigational chemotherapy Endocrine therapy At least 4 weeks since prior steroid therapy Radiotherapy At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery Not specified Other At least 4 weeks since other prior investigational drug therapy and recovered