Fludarabine Followed By Adoptive Immunotherapy in Treating Patients With Stage IV Melanoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed metastatic melanoma * Stage IV disease * HLA-A2 or -A3-expressing disease * Bidimensionally measurable residual disease by palpation or radiographic imaging (e.g., x-ray or CT scan) * No CNS metastases * Previously treated CNS involvement allowed provided there is no evidence of CNS disease at least 2 months after completion of therapy PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 to 75 Performance status * Karnofsky 80-100% Life expectancy * More than 6 months Hematopoietic * Platelet count \> 100,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count \> 2,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * SGOT no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal * Bilirubin no greater than 1.6 mg/dL * INR no greater than 1.5 times normal Renal * Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL OR * Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular * No congestive heart failure * No clinically significant hypotension * No symptoms of coronary artery disease * No cardiac arrhythmia by EKG requiring drug therapy Pulmonary * No clinically significant pulmonary dysfunction * FEV\_1 at least 1.0 L\* * DLCO at least 45%\* NOTE: \*For patients with a history of pulmonary dysfunction Immunologic * No active infection * No oral temperature greater than 38.2°C within the past 48 hours * No systemic infection requiring chronic maintenance or suppressive therapy Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * No concurrent immunotherapy (e.g., interleukins, interferons, melanoma vaccines, IV immunoglobulins, expanded polyclonal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, or lymphokine-activated killer therapy) Chemotherapy * At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (standard or experimental) Endocrine therapy * No concurrent steroids Radiotherapy * At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery * Not specified Other * At least 3 weeks since prior immunosuppressive therapy * No concurrent pentoxifylline * No other concurrent investigational agents