High-Dose Intravenous Interleukin-2 in Treating Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (Kidney Cancer) That Has Not Responded to Previous Low-Dose Intravenous or Subcutaneous Interleukin-2

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed renal cell carcinoma * Metastatic disease * No pure papillary or sarcomatoid variants * Measurable disease * Failed prior subcutaneous OR intravenous (dose ≤ 50,000 IU/kg/day) interleukin-2 * Documented disease progression * No estimated hepatic replacement by tumor \> 25% by CT scan or MRI * No tumor involving the CNS or a major nerve PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * Karnofsky 80-100% Life expectancy * More than 3 months Hematopoietic * Platelet count ≥ 80,000/mm\^3 * No sites of ongoing bleeding Hepatic * See Disease Characteristics * Bilirubin ≤ 1.4 mg/dL * AST and ALT ≤ 3 times normal * PT or PTT INR ≤ 1.2 * Hepatitis B surface antigen negative * Hepatitis C virus negative * No coagulation disorders Renal * Creatinine ≤ 1.6 mg/dL Cardiovascular * No ongoing ischemia\* * No cardiac dysfunction\* * No abnormal ejection fraction\* NOTE: \*A cardiac stress test is indicated for all patients ≥ 50 years of age and for any patient with possible cardiac disease as suggested by history, physical exam, or electrocardiogram Pulmonary * FEV\_1 ≤ 65% of predicted\* * Vital capacity ≤ 65% of predicted\* NOTE: \*Pulmonary function tests are to be performed on any patient with a significant smoking history or suspected pulmonary disease either by history, physical exam, or radiograph Other * HIV negative * No AIDS * No systemic infections * No other malignancy except carcinoma in situ * No psychiatric illness that would preclude study participation or compliance * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * See Disease Characteristics Chemotherapy * Not specified Endocrine therapy * No concurrent steroids Radiotherapy * Not specified Surgery * Not specified Other * More than 28 days since other prior treatment for renal cell cancer * No concurrent immunosuppressive agents