OBJECTIVES:
Primary
* To determine the tumor burden reduction rate in patients with sunitinib malate- or bevacizumab-refractory, metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma treated with sorafenib tosylate.
Secondary
* To determine the safety of sorafenib tosylate in these patients.
* To record the duration of tumor reduction, time to disease progression, and overall survival of patients treated with sorafenib tosylate.
OUTLINE: Patients receive oral sorafenib tosylate twice daily on days 1-28. Courses repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.