Low Dose Decitabine + Interferon Alfa-2b in Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma

THE STUDY DRUGS: Decitabine is designed to slow tumor growth and may cause death of cancer cells. Interferon alfa-2B is designed to activate your immune system, which may help keep tumors from growing, and may shrink tumors. STUDY TREATMENT: If you are found to be eligible to take part in this study, you will receive decitabine by vein over 1 hour on Days 1-5 of each cycle. A cycle in this study is 28 days long. All treatments with decitabine will take place at M. D. Anderson. Once you have completed 2 cycles of decitabine (on Day 1 of Cycle 3), you will begin taking interferon alfa-2b twice each day (morning and afternoon) while continuing the same 5-day dosing schedule for decitabine. Interferon alfa-2b will be given as a subcutaneous (just under the skin) injection. It can be given by yourself or a caregiver at home or by your local doctor. You and your caregiver will be taught how to do the injection. STUDY VISITS: You will have the following tests/procedures performed during clinic visits. On Day 1 of each cycle: * You will have a physical exam, including measurement of your vital signs and weight. * You will be asked about any medications or treatments you may be currently receiving. * You will have a performance status evaluation. * You will be asked about any side effects you may have experienced since your last visit. You will have blood drawn (about 1 teaspoon) for routine testing. Beginning in Cycle 3, you will be required to return to the clinic around Day 14 of each cycle to have the following tests: * You will have blood drawn (about 1 teaspoon each time) once a week for routine tests. If you do not experience severe side effects during Cycles 3 and 4, you will no longer be required to have weekly routine blood testing. Instead, you will return to have routine blood drawn on Day 1 of each cycle. This once-weekly schedule will restart if you experience severe side effects in Cycle 5. * You will have a CT or MRI scan to check the status of the disease. * Your vital signs will be measured * You will be asked about any side effects you may have experienced since your last visit. LENGTH OF STUDY: You will continue taking the study drug combination unless the disease gets worse, you develop an illness that does not allow you to continue receiving the study therapy, or you experience any intolerable side effects. If any of these things occur, you will be removed from this study. This is an investigational study. Decitabine is FDA approved and commercially available for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Interferon alfa-2b is FDA approved and commercially available for the treatment of several types of cancer, such as malignant melanoma, hairy cell leukemia, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Their use together in this study in the treatment of PRC is investigational and authorized for use in research only. Up to 60 patients will take part in this study. All will be enrolled at M. D. Anderson.