Interleukin-2 in Treating Patients With Metastatic Kidney Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven metastatic renal cell carcinoma Clear cell Papillary Sarcomatoid Mixed Measurable or evaluable disease Evidence of disease following surgical resection of metastases No CNS disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL WBC at least 4,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.8 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception (barrier plus 1 other method) Thyroid-stimulating hormone normal No known hypersensitivity or allergy to components of recombinant human interleukin-2 No known autoimmune disease (e.g., Crohn's disease) No other concurrent medical condition that would preclude study PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior recombinant human interleukin-2 No concurrent interferon alfa Chemotherapy: No concurrent cytoxic chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: No concurrent hormonal therapy (e.g., medroxyprogesterone) other than estrogen replacement therapy No concurrent prophylactic glucocorticoids (replacement doses and topical use allowed) No concurrent systemic corticosteroids Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy No prior radiotherapy to index lesion No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Prior surgery for renal cell carcinoma allowed Other: No prior systemic therapy for renal cell carcinoma At least 4 weeks since prior investigational drugs No other concurrent investigational drugs or participation in another clinical study No concurrent iodinated radiocontrast dye No concurrent drugs for another indication that has purported activity in treatment of neoplasia (e.g., thalidomide)