Interleukin-2 With or Without Histamine Dihydrochloride in Treating Patients With Metastatic Kidney Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed metastatic renal cell carcinoma
* Bidimensionally measurable disease
* No clinical evidence of CNS metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 to 75

Performance status:

* Karnofsky 70-100%

Life expectancy:

* At least 3 months

Hematopoietic:

* Hemoglobin greater than 10.0 g/dL
* WBC greater than 3,000/mm3
* Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3

Hepatic:

* PTT normal
* Bilirubin less than 1.25 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

Renal:

* Creatinine less than 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular:

* No abnormal cardiac function by resting ECG

Pulmonary:

* FEV and FVC at least 70% predicted
* SaO2 at least 90% by pulse oximetry

Other:

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No clinically significant acute viral, bacterial, or fungal infection requiring specific therapy
* No pheochromocytoma
* No glaucoma
* No other concurrent ongoing active malignancy except carcinoma in situ of the cervix or localized squamous or basal cell carcinoma of the skin
* No serious recent nonmalignant medical complication that would preclude study therapy
* No organ grafts except skin grafts, blood transfusions, or bone marrow or stem cell transplantation
* No prior documented asthma or systemic allergic reaction within past 5 years
* No history of seizures, CNS disorders, or psychiatric disability that would preclude study compliance
* No medical, sociologic, or psychological impediment that would preclude study compliance
* No active peptic or esophageal ulcer disease
* No prior peptic or esophageal ulcer disease with history of bleeding
* HIV negative

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas and mitomycin)
* No concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

* At least 24 hours since prior steroids
* No concurrent steroids including steroid therapy for documented adrenal failure or septic shock
* Concurrent noncorticosteroid hormones for nonmalignancy conditions allowed

Radiotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior extensive radiotherapy
* No concurrent radiotherapy to measurable malignant masses

Surgery:

* Not specified

Other:

* At least 24 hours since prior beta blockers or clonidine
* No other concurrent systemic antimalignancy therapy
* No other concurrent antitumor agents
* No other concurrent investigational agents
* No concurrent beta blockers or clonidine
* No concurrent H2 receptor antagonists (e.g., Zantac, Tagamet) (arm I only)
* No concurrent antihistamines except to treat acute colds or allergy symptoms