Lenalidomide in Treating Patients With Advanced or Unresectable Kidney Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed renal cell carcinoma (RCC) * Advanced or unresectable disease * At least 1 measurable lesion * No active brain metastases * Prior brain metastases allowed provided patient has been treated with radiotherapy or surgery AND remains asymptomatic for ≥ 6 months PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL * AST and ALT ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN if liver metastases are present) * No hepatitis A, B, or C infection Renal * Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * HIV negative * No known hypersensitivity to thalidomide * No other serious medical condition, laboratory abnormality, or psychiatric illness that would preclude giving informed consent * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix or breast, localized prostate cancer, or superficial bladder cancer PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * No more than 1 prior systemic immunotherapy regimen for RCC * No prior lenalidomide (CC-5013) * No prior or concurrent thalidomide Chemotherapy * No more than 1 prior systemic chemotherapy regimen for RCC Endocrine therapy * No more than 1 prior systemic hormonal therapy regimen for RCC Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior surgery and recovered Other * No more than 1 other prior systemic therapy regimen for RCC * No other concurrent anticancer therapies * No other concurrent investigational agents