ZD 1839 in Treating Patients With Stage IV or Recurrent Kidney Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed stage IV or recurrent renal cell carcinoma not amenable to potentially curative surgery
* Evidence of disease progression
* Measurable disease

  * At least 20 mm with conventional techniques OR
  * At least 10 mm with spiral CT scan
* No brain metastases
* Malignant tissue available

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* ECOG 0-2 OR
* Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

* More than 2 months

Hematopoietic:

* WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3
* Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin normal
* AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular:

* No symptomatic congestive heart failure
* No unstable angina pectoris
* No cardiac arrhythmia

Other:

* No prior allergy to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to ZD 1839
* No ongoing or active infection
* No other uncontrolled illness or psychiatric condition that would preclude study
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* No more than 2 prior immunotherapy (interferon alfa or interleukin-2) regimens
* At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered
* No concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

* No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen
* At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered
* No concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

* Not specified

Radiotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
* No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

* See Disease Characteristics

Other:

* No prior therapy for metastatic disease
* No other concurrent investigational agents
* No concurrent oral retinoids