DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed primary stage II melanoma greater than 1.5 mm without evidence of lymph node metastases

  • T3 or T4, N0, M0
  • Must originate in the skin

• Wide excision with a minimum of 1-2 cm margin surrounding primary lesion or biopsy scar

  • No more than 56 days since definitive surgical treatment (wide excision)
  • No more than 12 weeks since primary surgery
• No clinical, radiological, or pathological evidence of incompletely resected disease, lymph node metastases, in-transit metastasis, or any distant metastatic disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 to 80

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• WBC at least 3,000/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3
• Hemoglobin at least 9.8 g/dL

Hepatic:

• SGOT/SGPT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN
• LDH no greater than 2 times ULN
• Bilirubin no greater than 2 times ULN
• Hepatitis B and C negative

Renal:

• Creatinine normal

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• No prior or other concurrent cancer except carcinoma in situ of the cervix or basal or squamous cell skin cancer
• No autoimmune disorders
• No conditions requiring systemic treatment with immunosuppressive drugs including treatment with systemic corticosteroids
• No history of CNS demyelinating or inflammatory disease
• No hereditary or acquired peripheral neuropathy
• No other significant medical or surgical condition or psychiatric disorders requiring medication that would preclude study
• No history of severe allergic reaction to shellfish
• HIV negative

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• No prior immunotherapy
• No other concurrent biologic therapy

Chemotherapy:

• No prior systemic chemotherapy
• No concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• No concurrent hormonal therapy except replacement therapy
• No concurrent corticosteroids
• No concurrent chronic systemic steroids

Radiotherapy:

• No prior adjuvant radiotherapy
• No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics

Other:

• No prior preoperative infusion or perfusion therapy
• No concurrent immunosuppressive medications
• No other concurrent anticancer therapy