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 concurre…