Interleukin-2 in Treating Patients With Mycosis Fungoides

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Clinically and histologically proven diagnosis of 1 of the following: * Mycosis fungoides (MF) meeting 1 of the following conditions: * Stage IIB disease that has failed psoralen ultraviolet A (PUVA) light therapy and topical chemotherapy (mechlorethamine and/or carmustine) * Stage III disease with generalized erythroderma * Stage IV disease with biopsy proven nodal or visceral involvement * Sezary syndrome * Stage III MF with a minimum of 20% Sezary cells (based on total WBC) * No clinically significant ascites or pleural effusion * Clinically significant pleural effusion defined as shortness of breath with oxygen saturation less than 90% PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 to 80 Performance status: * Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: * At least 16 weeks Hematopoietic: * See Disease Characteristics * WBC at least 3,500/mm\^3 * Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 11.5 g/dL Hepatic: * Bilirubin less than 2.5 times normal * SGOT less than 2.5 times normal Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL * No nephrotic syndrome Cardiovascular: * No history of myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure * No symptomatic coronary artery disease * No clinically manifest hypotension * No severe hypertension * No arrhythmia on electrocardiogram * No edema * No contraindication to pressor agents Pulmonary: * See Disease Characteristics * No dyspnea at rest or severe exertional dyspnea Neurologic: * No significant CNS dysfunction, including any of the following: * Seizure disorder * Active cerebrovascular disease * Dementia or delirium Other: * No autoimmune disease, including psoriasis * No uncontrolled peptic ulcer disease * No uncontrolled infection * No history of adverse reaction to interleukin-2 * HIV and HTLV-I negative * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * Not specified Chemotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior systemic or topical chemotherapy (6 weeks since prior mitomycin or nitrosoureas) Endocrine therapy: * At least 1 week since prior corticosteroids * No concurrent corticosteroids Radiotherapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery: * No prior organ allograft * At least 3 weeks since other prior major surgery Other: * At least 4 weeks since prior immunosuppressive therapy * At least 2 weeks since prior phototherapy (ultraviolet B \[UVB\] or PUVA light therapy) * No concurrent phototherapy (UVB or PUVA light therapy)