OBJECTIVES: Primary * Determine the rate of regression at 4-7 months in patients with grade III cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN III) treated with SGN-00101 immunotherapy. * Compare the rate of regression at 4-7 months with expected outcome in patients immunized with this vaccine. * Determine the toxic effects and recovery from possible toxic effects of this vaccine in these patients. Secondary * Determine induction of cell-mediated immune responses against human papillomavirus (HPV) E7 peptides before and after treatment in patients immunized with this vaccine * Correlate regression of disease with enhanced immunologic responses in patients immunized with this vaccine. * Correlate seropositivity of HPV-16 virus-like particles (VLP16) with vaccine-induced regression of CIN III in patients immunized with this vaccine. * Determine the efficacy of this vaccine in patients whose CIN III is associated with HPV-16 infection vs other HPV types. OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Patients are assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups. All patients receive SGN-00101 subcutaneously once monthly on months 1-3 (for a total of 3 vaccinations) in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. * Group 1: Four months after the first vaccination, patients undergo therapeutic and diagnostic loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) or core biopsy. * Group 2: Six months after the first vaccination, patients undergo therapeutic and diagnostic LEEP or core biopsy. Patients in group 1 are followed at 12 months and patients in group 2 are followed at 14 months after the first vaccination. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 66 patients (36 for group 1 and 30 for group 2) will be accrued for this study.
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed grade III cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN III) with colposcopically visible cervical lesions * No positive endocervical curettage or inadequate colposcopy at the time of initial cervical biopsy PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * Not specified Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * WBC at least 3,500/mm\^3 * Lymphocyte count at least 500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 150,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL * No significant hematologic disease that is uncontrolled with standard therapy Hepatic * Bilirubin no greater than 2 mg/dL * Liver enzymes no greater than 2.5 times normal * No significant hepatic disease that is uncontrolled with standard therapy Renal * Creatinine no greater than 2 mg/dL * No significant renal disease that is uncontrolled with standard therapy Cardiovascular * No significant cardiovascular disease that is uncontrolled with standard therapy Pulmonary * No significant respiratory disease that is uncontrolled with standard therapy * No history of asthma Immunologic * HIV negative * No clinical evidence of immunosuppression * No autoimmune disease * No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological activity as those used in this study * No history of a positive purified protein derivative (PPD) or Tine test Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Good health based upon the results of a medical history, physical examination, vital signs, and laboratory profile * No uncontrolled chronic disease * Chronic disease requiring medication is allowed provided the patient is not taking immunosuppressive drugs * No significant endocrine (e.g., thyroid or diabetes), neurologic, gastrointestinal, or dermatologic disease that is uncontrolled with standard therapy * No other underlying or unstable disease that would be exacerbated by the study treatment PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * No prior BCG vaccination * No other concurrent vaccine therapy Chemotherapy * No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * More than 30 days since prior oral or parenteral glucocorticoid steroid Radiotherapy * Not specified Surgery * Not specified Other * More than 30 days since prior participation in another investigational study * No concurrent cytotoxic therapy * No other concurrent investigational agents * No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies intended to treat CIN
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