Approximately 31,000 new cases of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) occur each year in the United States, with a death rate of about 11,600 annually. Many patients present with advanced or unresectable disease, and up to 30% of patients who are treated with nephrectomy will relapse. The 5 year survival rate for metastatic renal RCC is estimated at < 10%. Surgical resection of discernible disease is the only potentially curative treatment. No significant improvement in survival has been demonstrated for patients with metastatic RCC who have been treated with systemic hormonal, chemotherapeutic, and radiation therapy. Interferon alpha has about a 15% objective response rate in appropriately selected patients. Administration of interleukin 2 (IL 2) has shown a similar response rate; however, approximately 5% of highly selected patients had durable complete remissions.