DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed renal cell carcinoma

  • Recurrent or refractory advanced disease OR
  • Newly diagnosed disease with no appropriate standard therapy available
• Measurable disease

• No active CNS metastases

  • Single prior CNS metastasis allowed if all of the following are true:

    • Previously resected and irradiated
    • No evidence of progressive CNS disease for at least 8 weeks after completion of therapy
    • No requirement for steroids or anti-seizure medications

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• Over 18

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

• More than 3 months

Hematopoietic:

• WBC at least 3,000/mm^3
• 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)
• AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris
• No cardiac arrhythmia

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for at least 2 weeks after study for female patients and for 3 months after study for male patients
• No concurrent uncontrolled illness
• No ongoing or active infection
• No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study entry

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• No prior interleukin-2

Chemotherapy:

• Not specified

Endocrine therapy:

• See Disease Characteristics

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• Prior radiotherapy to less than 50% of bone marrow allowed
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics

Other:

• No other concurrent investigational agents
• No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients