Tinzaparin in Treating Patients With Metastatic Kidney Cancer That Cannot Be Removed By Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed renal cell carcinoma of clear cell histology

  * Tumors of mixed histology eligible if ≥ 50% of tumor has clear cell histology
  * No nonclear cell histologies, collecting duct tumors, oncocytomas, or transitional cell tumors
* Metastatic and unresectable disease that is clinically extending beyond the regional lymph nodes (histological confirmation not required)

  * Patients who are inoperable for their primary tumor representing the sole site of disease are ineligible
* Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 2 cm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 1 cm by spiral CT scan
* No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Expected survival \> 2 months
* CALGB (ECOG/ZUBROD) performance status (PS) 0-2 OR Karnofsky PS 60-100%
* Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
* Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* AST/ALT ≤ 1.5 times ULN
* Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN
* INR ≤ 1.5 times control value
* PTT \< 1.5 times control value
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* Patients must be able to receive subcutaneous injections at home
* No other primary malignancy in the past 5 years other than basal cell carcinoma or carcinoma in situ of the cervix that has been curatively treated and is associated with a less than 30% risk of relapse in the next 5 years
* No signs or symptoms of bleeding within 4 the past weeks
* No known bleeding diathesis or high risk for bleeding due to any condition, including trauma within the past 4 weeks, active current bleeding, or hemorrhagic stroke or intraocular bleeding within the past 6 months
* No active thromboembolism highly likely to require anticoagulation during the study period
* No known or suspected history of type II heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
* No allergy or hypersensitivity to heparin, tinzaparin sodium, pork products, sulfite, or benzyl alcohol
* No uncontrolled severe intercurrent illness, including ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
* No uncontrolled arterial hypertension, history of gastrointestinal ulceration, and/or bleeding in the past 4 weeks
* No diabetic retinopathy or history of retinal hemorrhage
* Not pregnant or nursing
* HIV-positive patients are allowed

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* No treatment with anticoagulation lasting \> 1 month in the past 6 months
* No anticoagulation, including treatment with a low molecular weight heparin, at any time within the past month
* More than 4 weeks since prior surgery, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, or chemotherapy
* Recovered from prior therapy
* No other concurrent investigational agents
* No other concurrent anticoagulation therapy, including oral anticoagulants, thrombolytic agents, or any form of heparin

  * Concurrent antiplatelet agents allowed
* No spinal or epidural puncture, anesthesia, or post-operative indwelling epidural catheters within the past 48 hours
* No other concurrent anticancer agents or therapies
* No concurrent sex hormones except for postmenopausal hormone replacement
* No concurrent chemotherapy or immunotherapy
* No concurrent palliative radiotherapy
* Concurrent urgent use of corticosteroids allowed