PS-341 in Treating Patients With Metastatic Kidney Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed renal cell carcinoma * Metastatic disease * Unidimensionally measurable disease * No brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * Not specified Performance status: * Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: * More than 3 months Hematopoietic: * WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL * ALT/AST no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN Other: * No pre-existing neuropathy of grade 1 or greater * No other malignancy within the past 5 years, except completely resected basal cell skin cancer, unless treated with potentially curative therapy or at low risk for recurrence * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 months after study PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy and recovered * No concurrent biologic therapy Chemotherapy: * No prior cytotoxic therapy * No concurrent cytotoxic therapy Endocrine therapy: * Not specified Radiotherapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: * At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery Other: * No other concurrent anticancer therapy