Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed renal cell carcinoma (RCC) that is metastatic or recurrent

- No central nervous system or major nerve involvement

- No more than 25% estimated hepatic replacement by tumor on CT or MRI

- Measurable disease required

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- Karnofsky 80%-100%

Life expectancy:

- Greater than 3 months

Hematopoietic:

- Platelet count at least 80,000/mm3

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin normal

- AST and ALT no greater than 3 times normal

Renal:

- Creatinine normal

Cardiovascular:

- Stress cardiac exam normal (exam performed in patients aged 50 and older and in those
with potential cardiac disease suggested by history, physical exam, or EKG)

Pulmonary:

- FEV1 and VC greater than 65% of predicted (tests performed in patients with
significant smoking history and in those with potential pulmonary disease suggested
by history, physical exam, or x-ray)

Other:

- No sites of ongoing bleeding

- No HIV antibody or AIDS

- No hepatitis B antigen

- No systemic infection

- No requirement for steroids

- No psychiatric disease that precludes informed consent or safe administration of
immunotherapy

- No second malignancy except:

- Basal cell carcinoma

- In situ cervical cancer

- Other cancer provided all evaluable lesions are documented RCC

- No pregnant or nursing women

- Effective contraception required of fertile women

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

- No prior interleukin-2 therapy

Chemotherapy

- Not specified

Endocrine therapy

- Not specified

Radiotherapy

- Not specified

Surgery

- Not specified

Other

- At least 28 days since therapy for RCC