MART-1 Antigen With or Without TLR4 Agonist GLA-SE in Treating Patients With Stage II-IV Melanoma That Has Been Removed by Surgery

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the immune response of each immunization regimen to determine an optimal regimen in terms of immune response to recommend for phase II testing. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the adverse events profile of each immunization regimen. TERTIARY OBJECTIVES: I. Describe the immunological efficacy of the vaccine preparations as measured by the frequency and interferon (IFN) gamma production of peptide-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. ARM I: Patients receive MART-1 antigen and TLR4 antagonist GLA-SE intramuscularly (IM) on day 1. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 3 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. ARM II: Patients receive MART-1 antigen IM on day 1. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 3 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study treatment, stage II patients are followed up at 10 weeks and then at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months and stage III-IV patients are followed up at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 months.