Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed renal cell cancer No CNS metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: At
least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: WBC at least 2,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3
Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL Hepatic: No hepatic failure No encephalopathy Bilirubin no
greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AST or ALT no greater than 2.5 times
ULN Renal: No renal dysfunction requiring dialysis for greater than 72 hours Creatinine no
greater than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No history of sustained ventricular tachycardia
(greater than 5 beats) No uncontrolled cardiac rhythm disturbances No recurrent chest pain
with echocardiogram changes No angina No myocardial infarction No pericardial tamponade No
moderate or severe coronary artery disease (New York Heart Association class 3 or 4)
Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective
contraception No significant neurological dysfunction including seizure or clinical signs
of other significant neurological disease No gastrointestinal bleeding requiring surgery
No concurrent infection requiring antimicrobial therapy No bowel ischemia or perforation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: At least 30 days since prior investigational drugs No other
concurrent investigational drugs No intubation required for greater than 72 hours No prior
enrollment in this study