Intravenous Interleukin-4 PE38KDEL Cytotoxin in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Kidney Cancer, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, or Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed recurrent or unresponsive, metastatic renal cell, non-small cell lung, or breast cancer that has been treated previously with standard surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy or for which no available treatment options currently exist Confirmed overexpression of interleukin-4 receptors Measurable disease (lesions greater than 10 mm by CT scan) OR Evaluable disease No prior or concurrent clinically significant brain metastases Hormone receptor status: Not specified PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Sex: Male or female Menopausal status: Not specified Performance status: Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: More than 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Transaminases no greater than 1.5 times ULN Albumin at least 2.5 g/dL Hepatitis B surface antigen negative Hepatitis C antibody negative No prior or concurrent hepatic disease (e.g., hepatitis or alcoholic liver disease) Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: See Surgery Electrocardiogram normal MUGA scan normal No congestive heart failure No cardiac arrhythmia requiring treatment No myocardial infarction No clinical evidence of coronary artery disease (unless there is a cardiac evaluation and evidence of adequate coronary function by a stress test or angiography) Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception for 4 weeks before, during, and for at least 3 months after study No concurrent underlying medical condition that would preclude study or cannot be controlled No active infection PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: See Disease Characteristics Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics At least 1 year since prior surgery or angioplasty for coronary artery disease Other: At least 28 days since prior experimental drugs and recovered