Interferon Alfa-2b With or Without Bevacizumab in Treating Patients With Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma (Kidney Cancer)

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed renal cell carcinoma (RCC)
• * Conventional clear cell carcinoma
• * Metastatic or unresectable disease
• The following characteristics and cellular types are excluded:
• * True papillary
• * Sarcomatoid features without a clear cell component
• * Chromophobe
• * Oncocytoma
• * Collecting duct tumor
• * Transitional cell carcinoma
• Measurable or nonmeasurable disease, including any of the following:
• * Unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques (e.g., physical exam or chest x-ray) OR 10 mm by spiral CT scan or MRI
• * The following are considered nonmeasurable disease:
• * Small lesions
• * Bone lesions
• * Leptomeningeal disease
• * Ascites
• * Pleural/pericardial effusion
• * Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis
• * Abdominal masses that are not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques
• * Cystic lesions
• * Irradiated lesions, unless progression is documented after radiotherapy
• RCC paraffin tissue blocks or unstained slides must be available
• No evidence of prior or concurrent CNS metastases by MRI or CT scan
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• 18 and over
• Performance status
• Karnofsky 70-100%
• Life expectancy
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic
• Granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
• No history of clinically significant bleeding
• Hepatic
• AST/ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN
• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN
• Renal
• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN
• No proteinuria \> 1+
• * Proteinuria ≥ 2+ allowed provided protein is \< 2 g/24-hour urine collection
• Cardiovascular
• No deep venous thrombosis within the past year
• No cerebrovascular accident within the past year
• No peripheral vascular disease with claudication on \< 1 block
• No uncontrolled hypertension defined as blood pressure ≥160 mm Hg (systolic) and/or ≥ 90 mm Hg (diastolic) while on medication
• No New York Heart Association class II-IV congestive heart failure
• No angina pectoris requiring nitrate therapy
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No other significant cardiovascular disease
• Pulmonary
• No pulmonary embolus within the past year
• No ongoing hemoptysis
• Other
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study treatment
• No preexisting thyroid abnormality in which normal thyroid function cannot be maintained by medication
• No delayed wound healing, ulcers, or bone fractures
• No uncontrolled psychiatric disorder
• No other currently active\* malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer NOTE: \*Disease is not considered currently active if patient completed anticancer therapy and is considered to have \< 30% risk of relapse
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• No prior systemic immunotherapy for RCC
• No prior thalidomide, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy, VEGF receptor inhibitors, or antiangiogenic treatment of any kind
• No concurrent prophylactic filgrastim (G-CSF) or sargramostim (GM-CSF)
• Chemotherapy
• No prior systemic chemotherapy for RCC
• No concurrent chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy
• No concurrent systemic corticosteroid therapy except the following:
• * Topical and inhaled steroids
• * Replacement therapy for adrenal insufficiency
• No concurrent hormones except those administered for nondisease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes)
• Radiotherapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• Prior palliative radiotherapy to metastatic lesions allowed provided at least 1 measurable or nonmeasurable lesion remains untreated
• No concurrent palliative radiotherapy
• Surgery
• At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered
• Other
• No other prior systemic investigational therapy for RCC
• No other prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant systemic therapy for RCC
• No concurrent full-dose oral or parenteral anticoagulation\* NOTE: \*Low-dose (1 mg) warfarin for maintenance of catheter patency and/or daily prophylactic aspirin is allowed