Interleukin-2 and Stem Cell Factor in Treating Patients With AIDS or AIDS-Related Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of HIV-1 by ELISA, Western blot, polymerase chain reaction, or other documentation * Must have had 1 of the following AIDS-defining illnesses: * Opportunistic infection * Opportunistic malignancy (excluding CNS involvement) * CD4 T-cell count less than 200/mm\^3 (but currently greater than 20/mm\^3) * Receiving antiretroviral therapy * No concurrent Kaposi's sarcoma * Prior Kaposi's sarcoma in complete response allowed PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * Karnofsky 80-100% Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Absolute granulocyte count greater than 1,000/mm\^3\* * Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL\* * Platelet count greater than 50,000/mm\^3\* NOTE: \*Transfusions and growth factors allowed in order to increase or maintain counts Hepatic * No major hepatic dysfunction evidenced by encephalopathy, ascites, or varices * Bilirubin no greater than 2 mg/dL * INR no greater than 1.5 Renal * Not specified Cardiovascular * No prior angioedema * No uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., diastolic blood pressure greater than 115 mmHg) * No unstable angina * No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease * No congestive heart failure * No coronary angioplasty within the past 6 months * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No uncontrolled atrial or ventricular cardiac arrhythmia Pulmonary * No history of seasonal or recurrent asthma within the past 10 years * No concurrent asthmatic symptoms (e.g., wheezing) related to a current respiratory tract infection Immunologic * No prior positive allergy test (skin or radioallergosorbent test) for insect venoms * No known allergy to E. coli-derived products * No prior anaphylactic events manifested by disseminated urticaria, laryngeal edema, and/or bronchospasm * Drug allergies manifested solely by rash and/or urticaria allowed * No recurrent urticaria (isolated episode of urticaria allowed) * No other active uncontrolled infection (including one with current symptoms of bronchoconstriction) * No fever of 38.2° C or higher * Fevers due to B symptoms allowed Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No prior or concurrent CNS malignancy * No poorly controlled diabetes * No other significant nonmalignant disease * No other malignancy except those in stable partial response or stable complete response (no evidence of progressive disease for at least 8 weeks after therapy for the malignancy) PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * See Hematopoietic in Patient Characteristics * No prior stem cell factor * No concurrent interleukin-11 for thrombocytopenia Chemotherapy * No concurrent chemotherapy for malignancy Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * Not specified Surgery * Not specified Other * No concurrent enrollment on any other protocol utilizing an investigational drug * No concurrent beta adrenergic blocking agents