Gene-Modified White Blood Cells Followed By Interleukin-2 and Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic Melanoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of melanoma * Metastatic disease * Measurable disease * Refractory to standard therapy, including high-dose interleukin-2 therapy * HLA-A\*0201 positive * Progressive disease during prior immunization to melanoma antigens OR prior treatment with anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 monoclonal antibody (MDX-010) cellular therapy with or without myeloablation allowed provided toxicity resolved to ≤ grade 2 (except vitiligo) AND patient does not require systemic steroids * No brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy * More than 3 months Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count \> 1,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count \> 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin \> 8.0 g/dL * Lymphocyte count \> 500/mm\^3 * WBC \> 3,000/mm\^3 * No coagulation disorders Hepatic * AST and ALT \< 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dL (3.0 mg/dL in patients with Gilbert's syndrome) * Hepatitis B surface antigen negative * Hepatitis C antibody negative (unless antigen negative) Renal * Creatinine ≤ 1.6 mg/dL Cardiovascular * LVEF ≥ 45% by cardiac stress test * No LVEF \< 45% in patients ≥ 50 years of age * No myocardial infarction * No cardiac arrhythmias * No symptomatic cardiac ischemia * No prior EKG abnormalities * No other major cardiovascular illness Pulmonary * FEV\_1 ≥ 60% of predicted AND no obstructive or restrictive pulmonary disease * No symptoms of respiratory dysfunction * No other major respiratory illness Immunologic * HIV negative * Epstein-Barr virus positive * No active systemic infections (including opportunistic infections) * No form of primary (e.g., autoimmune colitis or Crohn's disease) or secondary immunodeficiency (due to chemotherapy or radiotherapy) * No prior severe immediate hypersensitivity reaction to any of the study agents including eggs * No other major illness of the immune system Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 month after study participation * Willing to complete a durable power of attorney (DPA) PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * See Disease Characteristics * More than 6 weeks since prior MDX-010 Chemotherapy * Not specified Endocrine therapy * See Disease Characteristics * No concurrent systemic steroid therapy Radiotherapy * Not specified Surgery * Not specified Other * More than 4 weeks since other prior systemic therapy and recovered