Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Advanced or Recurrent Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically proven stage III, IV, or recurrent carcinoma of the cervix or other tumor that carries human papilloma virus 16 (HPV16) such as other anogenital (vulvar, penile, and anal), esophageal, and head and neck cancers * HLA-A2.1 positive * Patients with tumors other than cervical cancer must have no other therapeutic options * Fresh tissue or paraffin block available for HPV genome detection and typing (optional for cervical cancer) * No history of CNS metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * Over 18 Performance status: * ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: * More than 3 months Hematopoietic: * WBC at least 2,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL * SGPT no greater than 4 times normal Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease Immunologic: * No autoimmune disease, e.g.: * Systemic lupus erythematosus * Multiple sclerosis * Ankylosing spondylitis * HIV negative * Responsive to 1 of the following skin test antigens: * Mumps Trichophyton * Candida Tetanus Other: * No active infection requiring antibiotics * No weight loss greater than 20% within the past 6 months * No other active malignancy except basal cell skin cancer * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR C…