Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed stage IV or recurrent renal cell carcinoma
not amenable to potentially curative surgery

- Evidence of disease progression

- Measurable disease

- At least 20 mm with conventional techniques OR

- At least 10 mm with spiral CT scan

- No brain metastases

- Malignant tissue available

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- ECOG 0-2 OR

- Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

- More than 2 months

Hematopoietic:

- WBC at least 3,000/mm^3

- Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3

- Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin normal

- AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

Renal:

- Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular:

- No symptomatic congestive heart failure

- No unstable angina pectoris

- No cardiac arrhythmia

Other:

- No prior allergy to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to ZD 1839

- No ongoing or active infection

- No other uncontrolled illness or psychiatric condition that would preclude study

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- No more than 2 prior immunotherapy (interferon alfa or interleukin-2) regimens

- At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered

- No concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

- No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen

- At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and
recovered

- No concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

- Not specified

Radiotherapy:

- At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

- No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

- See Disease Characteristics

Other:

- No prior therapy for metastatic disease

- No other concurrent investigational agents

- No concurrent oral retinoids