Interferon Alfa-2b With or Without Thalidomide in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Unresectable Kidney Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically proven previously untreated metastatic or unresectable renal cell carcinoma

Retroperitoneal lymph nodes that are unresectable or those that are not resected at the investigator's discretion are considered metastatic disease
Prior nephrectomy allowed provided there is evidence of unresponsive metastatic disease after surgery or within one month prior to study enrollment

Bidimensionally measurable disease

Measurable disease must be outside any prior radiotherapy port
No history of brain metastases unless surgically resected or treated with gamma knife radiotherapy and currently without radiologic evidence of CNS disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Performance status:

ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

Not specified

Hematopoietic:

Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL (transfusion allowed)
Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
SGOT no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months

Other:

Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use 2 effective methods of contraception (1 highly active method and 1 barrier method) for at least 4 weeks before, during, and for at least 4 weeks after study participation
No other malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
No uncontrolled diabetes or any other concurrent illnesses that would increase risk
No history of peripheral neuropathy
No severe depression

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

No prior immunotherapy (including adjuvant interferon alfa therapy), cellular therapy, or vaccine therapy for renal cell carcinoma
No prior antiangiogenesis therapy for renal cell carcinoma
Immunotherapy for prior malignancy allowed (except for interferon alfa therapy)

Chemotherapy:

No prior chemotherapy for renal cell carcinoma
Chemotherapy for prior malignancy allowed

Endocrine therapy:

No prior hormonal therapy for renal cell carcinoma

Radiotherapy:

See Disease Characteristics
At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

See Disease Characteristics

Other:

More than 7 days since prior IV antibiotics for infection