Interferon Alfa With or Without Thalidomide in Treating Patients With Metastatic Kidney Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed metastatic renal cell carcinoma * Measurable progressive disease, defined as non-irradiated marker lesions greater than 1 cm PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * Over 18 Performance status: * WHO 0-2 Life expectancy: * More than 12 weeks Hematopoietic: * Neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin greater than 10 g/dL Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST/ALT less than 5 times ULN Renal: * Creatinine clearance greater than 50 mL/min OR * Edetic acid clearance greater than 40 mL/min Cardiovascular: * No unstable angina or myocardial infarction within the past 6 months Other: * No other prior invasive malignancy except cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or nonmelanomatous skin cancer * No chronic neurological disease causing peripheral neuropathy * No diabetes mellitus * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use at least one highly effective method and at least one additional effective method of contraception for female patients and barrier contraception for male patients for at least 2 weeks before and during study PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * No prior interferon alfa for metastatic renal cell carcinoma Chemotherapy: * No prior systemic chemotherapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma * No concurrent cytotoxic therapy Endocrine therapy: * No concurrent corticosteroids Radiotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * Concurrent local radiotherapy for symptomatic secondary sites of disease allowed if these sites are not being used as markers of disease response Surgery: * Not specified Other: * No other prior systemic treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma * No concurrent chronic medication known to cause peripheral neuropathy