PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered No prior tyrosinase or gp100 peptides No prior Montanide ISA-51 No prior melanoma protein vaccine or melanoma whole cell vaccines No other concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: At least 2 weeks since prior systemic steroids and recovered No concurrent systemic steroids Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered No prior radiotherapy to the spleen No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: Recovered from any prior surgery No prior splenectomy Other: At least 1 week since prior antiinflammatory drugs and recovered At least 1 week since prior antihistamines and recovered No concurrent antiinflammatory drugs No concurrent antihistamines No concurrent antimicrobial drugs