DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically proven renal cell cancer that is metastatic

  • No greater than 50% estimated hepatic replacement by tumor on CT or MRI
  • No symptomatic involvement of the CNS or a major nerve
• Measurable disease required
• Ineligible for treatment with low-dose interleukin-2 on another CMC protocol

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• Karnofsky 50%-100%

Life expectancy:

• More than 3 months

Hematopoietic:

• No coagulopathy (i.e., platelet count less than 80,000/mm3)

Hepatic:

• AST and ALT no greater than 5 times normal

Renal:

• Creatinine less than 4.0 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

• No symptomatic angina
• No untreated coronary artery disease
• No refractory arrhythmia
• No abnormal left ventricular function

Pulmonary:

• No dyspnea on minimal exertion

Other:

• No site of ongoing bleeding
• No systemic infection
• No HIV antibody
• No HBsAg
• No requirement for steroids
• No psychiatric disease that precludes informed consent or protocol treatment

• No second malignancy except:

  • Basal cell skin carcinoma
  • Carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Effective contraception required of fertile women

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• No prior interleukin-2

Chemotherapy

• Not specified

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• Not specified

Surgery

• Not specified

Other

• At least 28 days since prior treatment for renal cell cancer