Vaccine Therapy With or Without Sargramostim in Treating Patients With High-Risk or Metastatic Melanoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed high-risk stage III or IV melanoma * Stage III disease less than 6 months after surgical resection * Completed prior interferon alfa therapy OR * Progressive disease or major adverse events during prior interferon alfa therapy * Stage III disease at least 6 months after surgical resection * Declined, failed, or completed prior standard therapy * Stage IV disease * Declined, failed, or completed prior standard therapy * HLA-A2 positive * No CNS metastases unless treated and stable PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * Karnofsky 80-100% Life expectancy: * At least 4 months Hematopoietic: * Neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 * Lymphocyte count at least 500/mm3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 * Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL (10.0 g/dL if less than 50 kg) * No bleeding disorder Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL * No hepatitis B or C positivity Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.8 mg/dL Cardiovascular: * No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease Other: * HIV negative * No other serious illness * No serious infection requiring antibiotics * No history of immunodeficiency disease or autoimmune disease * No psychiatric or addictive disorder 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 bone marrow or stem cell transplantation * At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy or biologic therapy * No other concurrent immunotherapy or biologic therapy Chemotherapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) * No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * No concurrent systemic corticosteroids * No concurrent steroids except topical or inhalational steroids * Concurrent hormonal therapy allowed Radiotherapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior surgery Other: * At least 4 weeks since prior investigational agents * Concurrent noncytotoxic anticancer therapy allowed * No concurrent immunosuppressive therapy * No concurrent antihistamines * No concurrent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs except in low doses for prevention of an acute cardiovascular event or pain control