Vorinostat and Isotretinoin in Treating Patients With Advanced Kidney Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

Histologically or cytologically confirmed renal cell carcinoma

Advanced or metastatic disease
Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion > 20 mm by conventional techniques or > 10 mm by spiral CT scan (phase II only)

Failed ≥ 2 prior treatment regimens, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy (i.e., interleukin or interferon), biological agents (i.e., kinase inhibitors), or combinations thereof

An overlap between classes of therapies given concurrently will be counted as 2 prior treatment regimens
No known brain metastases
ECOG performance status (PS) 0-2 OR Karnofsky PS 60-100%
Life expectancy > 3 months
WBC ≥ 3,000/mm^3
Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL
AST and ALT < 2.5 times upper limit of normal
Creatinine ≤ 2 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance > 50 mL/min
Negative pregnancy test

Exclusion criteria:

Not pregnant or nursing
No history of allergic reactions or hypersensitivity attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to vorinostat (SAHA), isotretinoin, or other agents or components (e.g., parabens) used in this study

No uncontrolled intercurrent illness, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

Ongoing or active infection
Symptomatic congestive heart failure
Unstable angina pectoris
Cardiac arrhythmia
Psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
No concurrent antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
No other concurrent anticancer therapy, including radiation, biologic, or chemotherapeutic agents, for renal cell carcinoma or other tumors
No other concurrent investigational agents, valproic acid, or other retinoid