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)