The instant disclosure identifies and synthesizes peptide residues initially isolated from a melanoma cell line. The peptides are capable of reconstituting an epitope recognized by tumor specific CTL. Some of the sequences are homologous with proteins identified as pMEL17, tyrosinase and cofilin. The present invention provides for the treatment of melanoma patients using synthetic peptides that reconstitute epitopes for melanoma specific CTL. In another embodiment the peptides are used as vaccines for imparting immunity. Alternatively, in one embodiment the peptides may be used to bind to antigen presenting cells in a method for providing specific antigenic stimulation of CTL. The instant invention provides CTL cell lines capable of recognizing reconstituted HLA-A2.1 epitopes and their use in methods of adoptive immunotherapy. The invention additionally provides for genes encoding for peptides capable of reconstituting epitopes recognized by tumor specific CTL and their use as vaccines in the prevention and management of melanoma. A splitter is also disclosed to identify active peptides.