Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Myelodysplastic Syndrome

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with 1 of the following classifications: Refractory anemia Refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts Refractory anemia with excess blasts Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia History of MDS, received chemotherapy for acute leukemia within past 12 months, and now in remission Myelodysplastic disease must be stable (not anticipated to require chemotherapy for at least 4 months) Must have 1 of the following N-, K-, or H-ras peptide mutations: Progenitor cells contain aspartic acid, valine, or serine substitution at codon 12, OR Aspartic acid or arginine substitution at codon 13 PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 17 Performance status: ECOG 0 or 1 Life expectancy: Greater than 5 months Hematopoietic: WBC at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 50,000/mm3 Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Not specified Cardiovascular: No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception No other medical condition that might prevent completion of study or prevent immunological response to study regimen No other concurrent serious medical illness No active bleeding PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics Endocrine therapy: No concurrent immunosuppressive drugs including systemic steroids or antiinflammatory drugs Radiotherapy: No prior irradiation of spleen Surgery: No prior splen…