OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the safety and toxicity of in vivo particle bombardment with DNA coated gold beads carrying cDNA for gp100, with or without gold beads carrying cDNA for sargramostim (GM-CSF), into uninvolved skin of patients with melanoma. II. Estimate the intensity and duration of gp100 transgene expression following these regimens in these patients. III. Assess local lymphocyte phenotype and systemic lymphocyte function following these regimens in these patients. IV. Compare gp100 transgene expression as well as local lymphocyte phenotype and systemic lymphocyte function when the cDNA for GM-CSF is administered 3 days before cDNA for gp100 vs on the same day as gp100 administration in these patients. V. Determine the effect of these regimens on tumor shrinkage, histological evidence of tumor inflammation or necrosis, or in vitro evidence of antitumor immune reactivity in these patients.