OBJECTIVES: Primary * Determine the efficacy of 3-AP (Triapine®), in terms of objective response rate, in patients with previously untreated locally recurrent or metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Secondary * Determine the adverse events and tolerability of this drug in these patients. * Determine the time to disease progression and overall survival of patients treated with this drug. OUTLINE: This is a nonrandomized, multicenter study. Patients receive 3-AP (Triapine®) IV over 2 hours on days 1-4 and 15-18. Treatment repeats every 28 days for up to 6 courses (for stable patients) in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients who achieve a complete response (CR) receive 1 additional course after documentation of CR. Patients who achieve a partial response (PR) receive 2 additional courses after documentation of stable PR. Patients are followed every 4 weeks until relapse and then every 3 months for up to 2 years. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 15-30 patients will be accrued for this study within 1 year.
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed renal cell carcinoma * Locally recurrent OR metastatic disease * Incurable by standard therapy * Clinically and/or radiologically measurable disease * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion\* at least 20 mm by x-ray, physical exam, or non-spiral CT scan OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan * If the sole site of measurable disease is in a previously irradiated field, there must be documented disease progression at that site NOTE: \*Bone lesions are not considered measurable disease * No documented brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * No glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency\* NOTE: \*Screening for G6PD deficiency is required for patients of African, Asian, or Mediterranean descent Hepatic * Bilirubin normal * AST or ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Renal * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN * Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min Cardiovascular * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina * No active cardiomyopathy * No cardiac arrhythmia * No uncontrolled hypertension Pulmonary * No pulmonary disease requiring oxygen Immunologic * HIV negative * No known hypersensitivity to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to 3-AP (Triapine®) * No active uncontrolled or serious infection * No immunodeficiency Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No other prior malignancy except adequately treated nonmelanoma skin cancer, curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or other curatively treated solid tumor with no evidence of disease for at least 5 years * No history of significant neurologic or psychiatric disorder (e.g., uncontrolled psychotic disorders) that would preclude giving informed consent or complying with study requirements * No active peptic ulcer disease * No other serious illness or medical condition that would preclude study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * More than 3 months since prior interferon for advanced or recurrent disease * No other prior immunotherapy for advanced or recurrent disease * No prior gene therapy Chemotherapy * No prior systemic chemotherapy for advanced or recurrent disease Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy (except low-dose nonmyelosuppressive radiotherapy) and recovered Surgery * At least 2 weeks since prior major surgery Other * No prior investigational anticancer agents * No other concurrent anticancer agents or therapy * No other concurrent investigational therapy * No concurrent anticoagulants * Concurrent nontherapeutic warfarin or heparin allowed