Evaluation of GM-CSF-in-Adjuvant and the Number of Vaccine Sites on Immunization With Multiple Synthetic Melanoma Peptides

Fecha de inicio: 1 de septiembre de 2003

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of melanoma * Stage IIB, IIC, III, or IV disease * Must express HLA-A1, -A2, or -A3 * No ocular melanoma PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 12 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count \> 1,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count \> 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin \> 9 g/dL Hepatic * Liver function tests ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Renal * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular * No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease Other * Not pregnant or nursing * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer without brain metastasis, carcinoma in situ of the breast, or carcinoma in situ of the cervix PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * More than 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior growth factors * More than 4 weeks since prior allergy shots * No prior vaccine therapy for melanoma or any other cancer with any of the peptides used in this study * More than 12 weeks since prior melanoma vaccine therapy\* NOTE: \*Prior melanoma vaccine allowed only for patients with disease progression during or after administration of the vaccine Chemotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * More than 4 weeks since prior steroids Radiotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery * Not specified