DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed stage IV renal cell carcinoma

  • Symptomatic primary tumor or resectable metastasis
• Measurable disease post resection
• No symptomatic brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• WBC greater than 4,000/mm^3
• Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm^3
• Hemoglobin greater than 10 g/dL
• Hematocrit greater than 30%

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin less than 2 times normal
• SGOT less than 3 times normal

Renal:

• Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

• No evidence of active myocardial ischemia, prior myocardial infarction, or arrhythmia

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No contraindications to surgical resection
• No history of immunodeficiency disease
• No known allergy to penicillin

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Prior interleukin-2, interferon alfa, or other biologic agent allowed

Chemotherapy:

• Not specified

Endocrine therapy:

• No concurrent corticosteroids (except for replacement doses for adrenal insufficiency)

Radiotherapy:

• Not specified

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics

Other:

• No concurrent immunosuppressants