OBJECTIVES: I. Compare the effectiveness of vaccination with synthetic melanoma peptides pulsed on autologous dendritic cells versus vaccination with synthetic melanoma peptides plus sargramostim (GM-CSF) in decreasing tumor burden in patients with high risk melanoma (pulsed autologous dendritic cell arm closed 1/8/2001). II. Determine whether these regimens result in increased tumor specific immune responses as measured in vitro and in vivo. III. Determine whether these regimens stimulate T-cell responses in these patients.