Inclusion Criteria

PROTOCOL ENTRY CRITERIA:

--Disease Characteristics-- Histologically proven unresectable advanced renal cell cancer
Measurable disease Must have received or not be a suitable candidate for interleukin-2
therapy No papillary or collecting duct renal cell cancer No CNS metastases
--Prior/Concurrent Therapy-- Biologic therapy: See Disease Characteristics No prior
thalidomide At least 4 weeks since other prior biologic therapy No other concurrent
biologic therapy Chemotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy No concurrent
chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior endocrine therapy No
concurrent corticosteroid therapy Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics --Patient
Characteristics-- Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least
6 months Hematopoietic: WBC at least 1,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 75,000/mm3 No
coagulation disorder, active bleeding, or wound healing problem Hepatic: Total bilirubin
no greater than 2.0 mg/dL (for patients with Gilbert's disease, direct bilirubin less than
0.5 mg/dL) SGOT or SGPT no greater than 3 times normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than
2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No coronary artery disease Other: Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No clinically
evident preexisting peripheral neuropathy