Vaccine Therapy With or Without Imiquimod in Treating Patients With Grade 3 Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Colposcopically and biopsy confirmed grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia * Human papillomavirus (HPV) 16-positive disease by PCR * Measurable disease after diagnostic biopsy * No concurrent adenocarcinoma in situ of the cervix PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use an effective form of contraception during study treatment * Immunocompetent * No concurrent malignancy, except for nonmelanoma skin lesions * No serious concurrent disorder, including any of the following: * Active systemic infection * Autoimmune disease * Proven or suspected immunosuppressive disorder * Major medical illnesses of the cardiovascular or respiratory system * No evidence or history of cardiac disease, including any of the following: * Congestive heart failure * Symptomatic arrhythmia not controlled by medication * Unstable angina * History of acute myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular accident within the past 6 months * No history of severe allergy including eczema or other exfoliative skin disorder * No active eczema within the past 12 months * No concurrent skin conditions, including any of the following: * Burns * Traumatic or pruritic skin conditions * Open wounds * Unhealed surgical scars * Patients and their close social, sexual, or domestic contacts may not have any of the following active skin diseases: * Psoriasis * Lichen planus * Sever acneiform ras…