Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed locally advanced unresectable, locally
recurrent, or metastatic renal cell carcinoma not eligible for a higher priority
trial

- Measurable disease

- Longest diameter at least 20 mm with conventional techniques or at least 10 mm
with spiral CT scan

- No nonmeasurable disease only including:

- Bone lesions

- Leptomeningeal disease

- Ascites

- Pleural/pericardial effusion

- Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis

- Abdominal masses not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques

- Cystic lesions

- No known brain metastases

- History of brain metastases that have been resected and/or irradiated with
subsequent normal brain CT scan allowed

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- ECOG 0-2 OR

- Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

- Greater than 12 weeks

Hematopoietic:

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

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

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

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

Renal:

- Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR

- Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

- No symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, or cardiac
arrhythmia

Other:

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No other prior malignancy within the past 2 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or
carcinoma in situ of any site

- No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or
biologic composition to rebeccamycin analogue

- No other concurrent uncontrolled illness (e.g., ongoing or active infection)

- No concurrent psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study
compliance

- HIV negative

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- Prior biologic therapy allowed

- Recovered from toxic effects

Chemotherapy:

- No prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

- Not specified

Radiotherapy:

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

- See Disease Characteristics

Other:

- No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies for renal cell
cancer