The invention pertains to a method of treating or protecting against melanoma that comprises (a) obtaining a melanoma cell line that expresses one or more shared immunodominant melanoma antigens, (b) modifying the melanoma cell line to render it capable of producing an increased level of a cytokine relative to the unmodified cell line, and (c) administering the melanoma cell line to a mammalian host that has melanoma or is at risk for developing melanoma. Preferably the melanoma cell line is allogeneic and is not MHC-matched to the host.