Ipilimumab With or Without Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Previously Treated Stage IV Melanoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed stage IV melanoma HLA-A*0201 positive disease Previously treated metastatic disease Clinically evaluable and measurable disease No mucosal or ocular melanoma No evidence of active brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: ECOG performance status 0-2 WBC ≥ 2,500/mm³ Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,000/mm³ Absolute lymphocyte count ≥ 500/mm³ Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm³ Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL Creatinine < 2.5 mg/dL AST ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN if liver metastases are present) Bilirubin normal (< 3.0 mg/dL if Gilbert's syndrome is present) Hepatitis B surface antigen negative HIV negativity No hepatitis C virus antibodies Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No other prior malignancy except for any of the following: Adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer Superficial bladder cancer Carcinoma in situ of the cervix Any other cancer from which patient has been disease free for > 5 years No active immune-mediated disease requiring active therapy with any form of steroid or immunosuppressive therapy No documented history of any of the following: Inflammatory bowel disease Regional enteritis Connective tissue disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus Rheumatoid arthritis Immune-mediated inflammatory eye disease Sjögren's syndrome Inflammatory neurologic disorder, such as multiple sclerosis Any immune-mediated disease that can cause life-threatening symptoms or severe organ/tissue damage, in the opinion of the principal investigator History of vitiligo or immune-mediated thyroiditis allowed Skin rashes associated with previous therapy allowed provided patient has recovered from treatment-related toxicity to < grade 1 No active infection No systemic hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs History of local reactions (e.g., delayed hypersensitivity or glaucomatous reactions) to Montanide ISA-51 allowed No underlying medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude study treatment PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: At least 3 weeks since prior systemic treatment (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) and recovered No prior ipilimumab or gp100 vaccines More than 4 weeks since prior steroids No concurrent systemic or topical corticosteroids or immunosuppressive agents (e.g., cyclosporine or chemotherapy agents), including steroid enemas, inhaled steroids, or steroid eye drops Hormone-replacement therapy allowed