Arsenic Trioxide in Treating Patients With Metastatic Kidney Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed metastatic renal cell cancer Bidimensionally measurable disease No brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Not specified Performance status: Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: Greater than 3 months Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm3 Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin normal ALT or AST no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN (no greater than 1.95 mg/dL at MSKCC) Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 months after study No other prior malignancy unless curatively treated and disease free for the past 5 years and considered low risk for recurrence PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy and recovered No concurrent biologic therapy Chemotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior cytotoxic chemotherapy and recovered No other concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior hormonal therapy and recovered No concurrent hormonal therapy Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery