Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven stage III, stage IV, or recurrent renal
cell carcinoma Measurable disease No brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At
least 3 months Hematopoietic: Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Absolute neutrophil
count at least 1500/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than
1.5 mg/dL ALT and AST no greater than 2.5 times the institutional normal values Renal:
Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must
use effective contraception No uncontrolled systemic infection No other prior or
concurrent malignancies except nonmelanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix,
or ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast that have been curatively treated No evidence of
delirium, confusion, suicidal ideation, or untreated depression

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 30 days since prior cytokines and
recovered No more than 1 prior treatment with cytokines (interleukin-2 or interferons)
Chemotherapy: No prior cytotoxic chemotherapy No prior aminocamptothecin No other
concurrent antineoplastic agents Endocrine therapy: At least 30 days since prior hormone
therapy and recovered No more than 1 prior hormone therapy (tamoxifen or
medroxyprogesterone) Radiotherapy: Prior radiotherapy allowed if indicator lesion and
greater than 15% of marrow producing bone have not been irradiated Surgery: Recovered from
prior surgery Other: At least 30 days since other investigational agents No concurrent
investigational agents