Safety and Toxicity Study of Sorafenib in Patients With Kidney Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically or cytological confirmed metastatic or unresectable clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
* No more than one prior systemic therapy. No prior vascular endothelial growth factor receptor agents.
* Patients with primary tumor in place are strongly encouraged to undergo nephrectomy prior to initiation of study agent.
* Prior palliative radiotherapy to metastatic lesion(s) is permitted.
* All major surgery of any type and/or radiotherapy must be completed at least 4 weeks prior to registration.
* Patients must have metastatic or unresectable disease.
* Paraffin RCC tissue blocks or unstained slides must be available.
* Karnofsky performance status \> 70 % .
* Not pregnant
* Age \> 18
* Must meet required initial laboratory values

Exclusion Criteria:

* No ongoing hemoptysis, or cerebrovascular accident within 12 months, or peripheral vascular disease with claudication on less than 1 block, or history of clinically significant bleeding.
* No deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolus within one year of study enrollment and no ongoing need for full-dose oral or parenteral anticoagulation. Low dose coumadin (1 mg) for maintenance of catheter patency or daily prophylactic aspirin is allowed.
* No evidence of current central nervous system (CNS) metastasis. All patients must undergo an MRI or CT scan of the brain (with contrast, if possible) within 42 days prior to registration. Any imaging abnormality indicative of CNS metastases will exclude the patient from the study.
* No significant cardiovascular disease defined as congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association Class II, II or IV) angina pectoris requiring nitrate therapy, or recent myocardial infarction (within the last 6 months).
* No patients with uncontrolled hypertension (defined as blood pressure of \>160 mmHg systolic and/or \> 90 mmHg diastolic on medication).
* Any ongoing requirement for systemic corticosteroid therapy is not permitted. Topical and/or inhaled steroids are allowed.
* No pre-existing thyroid abnormality whose thyroid function cannot be maintained in the normal range by medication are ineligible.
* No uncontrolled psychiatric disorder.
* Patients with delayed healing of wounds, ulcers and/or bone fractures are not eligible
* Patients with a 'currently active' second malignancy other than non-melanoma skin cancers are not eligible. Patients are not considered to have a 'currently active' malignancy if they have completed anti-cancer therapy and are considered by their physician to be a less than 30% risk of relapse.