Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the breast * Stage III or IV disease * Primary or recurrent disease * Invasive lobular carcinoma allowed * HLA-A1, -A2, -A3, or -A31 positive * Underwent and recovered from prior primary therapy * Patients with no clinical or radiological evidence of disease who had a previous diagnosis of stage III or IV breast cancer must have undergone prior antineoplastic therapy including, but not limited to, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy within the past 36 months * Must have at least one undissected axillary and/or inguinal lymph node basin * No history of brain metastases * Hormone receptor status * Estrogen receptor-positive or -negative tumor PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status of 0 or 1 * Body weight \> 110 lbs (without clothes) * Male or female * Menopausal status not specified * Absolute neutrophil count \> 1000/mm\^3 * Platelet count \> 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin \> 9 g/dL * Hemoglobin A1c \< 7% * AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) * Bilirubin ≤ 2.5 x ULN * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 x ULN * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 x ULN * HIV negative * Hepatitis C negative * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No known or suspected allergies to any component of the vaccine * No active infection requiring antibiotics * No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease * No autoimmune disorders requiring cytotoxic or immunosuppressive therapy or autoimmune disorders with visceral involvement, except the following: * Laboratory evidence of autoimmune disease (e.g., positive ANA titer) without symptoms * Clinical evidence of vitiligo * Other forms of depigmenting illness * Mild arthritis requiring nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs * No medical contraindication or potential problem that would preclude study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * More than 4 weeks since prior surgery * More than 4 weeks since prior and no concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior and no concurrent allergy desensitization injections * More than 4 weeks since prior parenteral, oral, or inhaled corticosteroids * No concurrent inhaled steroids (e.g., Advair® or triamcinolone acetonide) * Prior or concurrent topical corticosteroids allowed * More than 4 weeks since prior and no concurrent growth factors (e.g., epoetin alfa, darbepoetin alfa, or pegfilgrastim) * More than 4 weeks since prior and no concurrent other investigational medication * More than 4 weeks since prior and no concurrent other agents with putative immunomodulating activity except for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents * Prior and concurrent hormonal therapy (e.g., tamoxifen, raloxifene, toremifene, fulvestrant, letrozole, anastrozole, or exemestane) allowed * No prior vaccination with any synthetic peptides in this protocol * Vaccines for infectious disease (e.g., influenza) allowed, provided they are administered ≥ 2 weeks prior to or ≥ 2 weeks after study vaccine * Short term therapy for acute conditions not related to breast cancer allowed * No concurrent illegal drugs