Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage IV Melanoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed stage IV melanoma that is considered incurable by surgery, radiotherapy, or limb perfusion M1a or M1b disease Measurable disease outside prior field of limb perfusion Metastatic mucosal melanoma allowed MAGE-3 positive by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction No uveal or choroidal primary melanoma No prior or concurrent brain metastases by CT scan or MRI of the brain PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age Not specified Performance status Zubrod 0-1 Life expectancy Not specified Hematopoietic Not specified Hepatic Hepatitis B surface antigen negative Hepatitis C negative No liver cirrhosis No unstable liver disease No coagulation disorders Renal Not specified Cardiovascular No major cardiovascular illness No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months Pulmonary No major pulmonary illness Other Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception HIV negative No AIDS or HIV-1-associated complex No chronic alcohol abuse or drug addiction No systemic infections No prior active autoimmune disease No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or adequately treated stage I or II cancer from which the patient is currently disease-free PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy At least 4 weeks since prior adjuvant biologic therapy No prior biologic therapy for stage IV melanoma No prior MAGE-3 peptide or protein vaccine preparation Chemotherapy At least 4 weeks since prior adjuvant chemotherapy No prior chemotherapy for stage IV melanoma Endocrine therapy Not specified Radiotherapy At least 4 weeks since prior adjuvant radiotherapy Surgery At least 4 weeks since prior surgery Other See Disease Characteristics At least 3 weeks since prior limb perfusion and recovered At least 4 weeks since other prior adjuvant therapy No other prior therapy for stage IV melanoma