BAY 59-8862 in Treating Patients With Advanced Kidney Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed advanced renal cell cancer

  * Unresectable, refractory, and/or metastatic
* At least 1 measurable lesion

  * A CNS lesion cannot be the sole target lesion
  * Lesions within a previously irradiated field are not considered measurable
* No metastatic brain or meningeal tumors unless the patient received prior definitive therapy more than 6 months ago, has had a negative imaging study within the past 4 weeks, and is clinically stable with respect to the tumor at study entry

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

* At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic:

* Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL

Hepatic:

* Total bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* ALT and AST no greater than 2.0 times ULN (5.0 times ULN if hepatic involvement)
* PT, INR, and PTT less than 1.5 times ULN
* No chronic hepatitis B or C

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN

Cardiovascular:

* No clinically evident congestive heart failure
* No serious cardiac arrhythmias
* No prior coronary artery disease or ischemia

Other:

* No prior hypersensitivity to taxane compounds that was not considered clinically manageable with premedication
* No other malignancy within the past 3 years except carcinoma in situ of the cervix, adequately treated basal cell carcinoma, or superficial bladder tumors (Ta, Tis, or T1)
* No substance abuse or medical, psychological, or social conditions that would preclude study compliance
* No active clinically serious infections
* No other condition that is unstable or would preclude study participation
* No grade 2 or greater pre-existing peripheral neuropathy
* No history of seizure disorder

  * Prior seizures related to brain metastases allowed provided that the patient has been seizure-free for at least 2 months
* HIV negative
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* At least 4 months since prior bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation
* No more than 2 prior immunotherapy regimens (interleukin-2 or interferon only)
* At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy
* At least 3 weeks since prior biologic response modifiers (e.g., filgrastim \[G-CSF\])
* More than 4 weeks since prior thalidomide or bevacizumab
* No prior anticancer vaccines
* No concurrent prophylactic G-CSF
* Concurrent G-CSF or other hematopoietic growth factors for acute toxicity (e.g., febrile neutropenia) allowed
* Concurrent chronic epoetin alfa allowed provided no dose adjustment occurred within 2 months before study

Chemotherapy:

* No prior systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy
* No prior oxaliplatin
* No other concurrent anticancer chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

* Patients with prior metastatic brain or meningeal tumors:

  * No concurrent acute or tapered steroid therapy
  * Concurrent chronic steroid therapy allowed provided the dose is stable for 1 month before and after screening radiographic studies
* No hormonal therapy for renal cell cancer

Radiotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
* No prior radiotherapy to target lesion identified for this study unless progression within the radiation portal is documented
* Concurrent palliative radiotherapy allowed provided:

  * No progressive disease
  * No more than 10% of bone marrow is irradiated
  * Radiation field does not encompass a target lesion
* No other concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

* At least 4 weeks since prior surgery
* No prior organ allograft

Other:

* At least 4 weeks since prior investigational drugs
* No other concurrent investigational therapy or approved anticancer therapy
* No concurrent illicit drugs or other substances that would preclude study
* Concurrent therapeutic anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin or heparin) allowed provided there is no prior evidence of underlying abnormality with PT, INR, or PTT
* Concurrent nonconventional therapies (e.g., herbs or acupuncture) or vitamin/mineral supplements allowed provided that they do not interfere with study endpoints
* Concurrent bisphosphonates for prophylaxis or bone metastases allowed