Vorinostat in Treating Patients With Kidney Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of advanced renal cell carcinoma that is either metastatic or inoperable
Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan
Disease is recurrent or refractory to interleukin-2 (IL-2) or interferon-based therapy OR new diagnosis in previously untreated patients who are not appropriate candidates to receive IL-2 based treatment
Patients who have failed up to 4 lines of prior immunotherapy or biological therapy allowed
No known brain metastases or leptomeningeal disease
Stable brain metastases or curatively resected brain metastases without neurologic dysfunction for ≥ 6 months allowed
ECOG performance status 0-2 OR Karnofsky 70-100%
Life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks
Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL
Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) OR creatinine clearance > 50 mL/min
Total bilirubin within normal limits
AST/ALT ≤ 2.5 times ULN (≤ 5 times ULN if liver metastasis is present)
No history of active malignancy (other than renal cell carcinoma) within the past 3 years other than nonmelanomatous skin cancer, in situ breast cancer, or in situ cervical cancer
No history of allergic reactions to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to vorinostat (SAHA)
No uncontrolled concurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, or cardiac arrhythmia
No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
No clinically significant hypercalcemia
No significant traumatic injury within the past 21 days
Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
No gastrointestinal disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication
No requirement for IV alimentation
No active peptic ulcer disease
Recovered from prior therapy
Prior nephrectomy or resection of metastatic lesions allowed provided full surgical recovery has occurred
No chemotherapy within the past 4 weeks (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin)
No radiotherapy within the past 4 weeks
No valproic acid for at least 2 weeks prior to study enrollment
No prior surgical procedures affecting absorption
No major surgery within the past 21 days
No concurrent antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
No other concurrent investigational agents
No other concurrent anticancer therapy