ZD 1839 in Treating Patients With Stage IV or Recurrent Kidney Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed stage IV or recurrent renal cell carcinoma not amenable to potentially curative surgery
• Evidence of disease progression
• Measurable disease
• * At least 20 mm with conventional techniques OR
• * At least 10 mm with spiral CT scan
• No brain metastases
• Malignant tissue available
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-2 OR
• Karnofsky 60-100%
• Life expectancy:
• More than 2 months
• Hematopoietic:
• WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin normal
• AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• Cardiovascular:
• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris
• No cardiac arrhythmia
• Other:
• No prior allergy to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to ZD 1839
• No ongoing or active infection
• No other uncontrolled illness or psychiatric condition that would preclude study
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• No more than 2 prior immunotherapy (interferon alfa or interleukin-2) regimens
• At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered
• No concurrent immunotherapy
• Chemotherapy:
• No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered
• No concurrent chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• No concurrent radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Other:
• No prior therapy for metastatic disease
• No other concurrent investigational agents
• No concurrent oral retinoids