OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the immunogenicity of gp100-tyrosinase peptide vaccine with sargramostim (GM-CSF), Montanide ISA-51, or QS21 as adjuvant in patients with advanced melanoma. II. Determine the toxicity of this multiepitope melanoma peptide vaccine in conjunction with these 3 adjuvants in these patients. III. Evaluate the antitumor effects of this multiepitope melanoma peptide vaccine in these patients.