The present invention describes the method of heterologous boosting immunizations, which in essence is the use of a priming vaccination and a boosting vaccination using two different recombinant vectors that contain a similar or different tumor associated antigen (TAA). The use of different recombinant vectors unexpectedly increases and maintains the immune response to most tumor-associated antigens included in the vectors. The claims are directed, but not limited to, various recombinant viral vectors: poxvirus, vaccine, adenovirus, etc. Additional embodiments and claims are directed, but not limited to, melanoma tumor antigens such as Mart1, gp100, or Hep B surface antigen. These tumor antigen expressing recombinant vectors are coupled with distinctly different recombinant vectors, which express various cytokines and co-stimulatory and accessory molecules such as B7-1, B7-2, ICAM-1, etc. This therapeutic intervention could be directed toward multiple human carcinomas but, with respect to this technology, has been customized as a therapeutic intervention for melanoma.