Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Advanced Kidney Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed locally advanced unresectable, locally recurrent, or metastatic renal cell carcinoma * Measurable disease * At least 20 mm with conventional techniques OR * At least 10 mm with spiral CT scan * No nonmeasurable disease only including: * Bone lesions * Leptomeningeal disease * Ascites * Pleural/pericardial effusion * Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis * Abdominal masses not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques * Cystic lesions * No known brain metastases * History of brain metastases that have been resected and/or irradiated with subsequent normal brain CT scan allowed PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * ECOG 0-2 OR * Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: * More than 12 weeks Hematopoietic: * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL * AST no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 2 mg/dL OR * Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: * No symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, or cardiac arrhythmia Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No other prior malignancy within the past 2 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of any site * No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to fenretinide * No other concurrent uncontrolled illness (e.g., ongoing or active infection) * No concurrent psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study * History of HIV allowed if no active infection or history of retinitis * No history of retinal disease, night blindness, or difficulty seeing in the dark PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * Prior biologic therapy allowed Chemotherapy: * No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen Endocrine therapy: * Not specified Radiotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics Other: * Recovered from prior therapy * No prior systemic retinoid therapy * No concurrent antioxidants (e.g., ascorbic acid or vitamin E) * No other concurrent therapy for renal cell carcinoma