OBJECTIVES: Primary * Determine response in patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with gemcitabine and irinotecan. Secondary * Determine the duration of response in patients treated with this regimen. * Determine the tolerance to and toxicity of this regimen in these patients. * Determine median and progression-free survival in patients treated with this regimen. OUTLINE: Patients receive gemcitabine IV over 30 minutes and irinotecan IV over 90 minutes on days 1 and 8. Treatment repeats every 21 days for 6-8 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients receive 2 additional courses beyond best response. Patients are followed every 3 months for 1 year, every 6 months for 2 years, and then annually thereafter. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 12-36 patients will be accrued for this study within 30 months.
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed renal cell carcinoma * Locally advanced unresectable or metastatic disease * Unidimensionally measurable disease by physical exam or imaging study * The following are not considered measurable disease: * Bone only disease * Pleural or peritoneal effusions * CNS lesions * Irradiated lesions unless disease progression was documented after radiotherapy PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * Over 18 Performance status * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * ALT and AST \< 3 times upper limit of normal * Bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dL Renal * Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL Gastrointestinal * No active inflammatory bowel disease * No significant bowel obstruction * No chronic diarrhea Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after study participation * No mental incapacitation or psychiatric illness that would preclude giving informed consent * No other active malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer * No other severe disease that would preclude study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy * No concurrent prophylactic filgrastim (G-CSF) or sargramostim (GM-CSF) Chemotherapy * No prior chemotherapy * No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * No concurrent hormones except steroids for adrenal failure, hormones for non-disease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes), or intermittent dexamethasone as an antiemetic Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy * No concurrent palliative radiotherapy Surgery * Not specified Other * No concurrent participation in another clinical trial
is designated in this study