Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed renal cell carcinoma

- Measurable metastatic disease on CT/MRI imaging

- Patients with suspicion of renal cancer on radiology must have a biopsy to
confirm diagnosis of clear cell disease

- No prior therapy for renal cancer

- Judged by the treating physician to have the potential to derive clinical benefit
from this treatment

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- ECOG performance status 0-2

- Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1 x 10^9/L (without growth factor support)

- Platelet count ≥ 75 x 10^9/L

- Total bilirubin ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (except for patients with
Gilbert disease)

- Serum creatinine ≤ 2 times ULN

- Serum transaminases < 5 times ULN

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 28 days after
completion of study therapy

- Willing and able to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plan, and laboratory
tests and other study procedures

- No congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, or coronary artery bypass graft
within the past 6 months, or ongoing severe or unstable arrhythmia requiring
medication

- No other severe acute or chronic medical or psychiatric condition, or abnormal
laboratory results that would impart, in the judgement of the investigator, excess
risk associated with study participation or study drug administration or would make
the patient inappropriate for entry into this study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 7 days since prior and no concurrent potent CYP3A inhibitors, including any
of the following:

- Ketoconazole

- Itraconazole

- Clarithromycin

- Erythromycin

- Diltiazem

- Verapamil

- Delavirdine

- Indinavir

- Saquinavir

- Ritonavir

- Atazanavir

- Nelfinavir

- At least 12 days since prior and no concurrent potent CYP3A inducers, including any
of the following:

- Rifampin

- Rifabutin

- Carbamazepine

- Phenobarbital

- Phenytoin

- St. John's wort

- Efavirenz

- Tipranavir

- Concurrent radiotherapy allowed provided sunitinib malate is stopped one day before
and resumed one day after radiotherapy

- Concurrent coumarin-derivative anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin) allowed (≤ 2 mg/day)
for prophylaxis of thrombosis

- No concurrent treatment with a drug having proarrhythmic potential (i.e.,
terfenadine, quinidine, procainamide, disopyramide, sotalol, probucol, bepridil,
haloperidol, risperidone, indapamide, or flecainide)

- No other concurrent investigational drug or participation in another clinical trial
(unless approved by the sponsor)