Monoclonal Antibody and Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Melanoma That Has Been Removed During Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed completely resected stage III or IV melanoma * Mucosal or ocular subtypes allowed * HLA-A2 positive * Positive staining of tumor tissue with antibody HMB-45 for gp100, tyrosinase, and/or MART-1 * Failed (or ineligible for or refusal of) interferon alfa PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * Not specified Performance status: * Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: * At least 12 months Hematopoietic: * WBC at least 2,500/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL * Hematocrit at least 30% Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST no greater than 1.25 times ULN * Hepatitis B surface antigen negative * Hepatitis C antibody nonreactive Renal: * Creatinine less than 1.25 times ULN Immunologic: * Antinuclear antibody (ANA) negative OR * If ANA positive, must be: * Antithyroglobulin antibody negative * Rheumatoid factor negative * Anti-LKM antibody negative * Anti-phospholipid antibody negative * Anti-islet cell antibody negative * Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody negative * HIV negative * No autoimmune disease (e.g., uveitis or autoimmune inflammatory eye disease) * No active infection * No hypersensitivity to tyrosinase:368-376, gp100:209-217, MART-1:26-35, or Montanide ISA-51 Other: * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, superficial bladder cancer, or carcinoma in situ of the cervix * No underlying medical condition that would preclude study * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * See Disease Characteristics * No prior anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 monoclonal antibody * No prior tyrosinase, gp100, or MART-1 peptide * No prior antitumor vaccination * No prior interleukin-2 * At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy for melanoma Chemotherapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy for melanoma Endocrine therapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior hormonal therapy for melanoma * At least 4 weeks since prior corticosteroids * No concurrent systemic or topical corticosteroids Radiotherapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy for melanoma Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics Other: * No prior cytotoxic therapy * At least 4 weeks since any other prior therapy for melanoma * Concurrent analgesics allowed if on stable dose for at least 2 weeks before study