Vorinostat in Treating Patients With Kidney Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of advanced renal cell carcinoma that is either metastatic or inoperable * Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan * Disease is recurrent or refractory to interleukin-2 (IL-2) or interferon-based therapy OR new diagnosis in previously untreated patients who are not appropriate candidates to receive IL-2 based treatment * Patients who have failed up to 4 lines of prior immunotherapy or biological therapy allowed * No known brain metastases or leptomeningeal disease * Stable brain metastases or curatively resected brain metastases without neurologic dysfunction for ≥ 6 months allowed * ECOG performance status 0-2 OR Karnofsky 70-100% * Life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL * Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) OR creatinine clearance \> 50 mL/min * Total bilirubin within normal limits * AST/ALT ≤ 2.5 times ULN (≤ 5 times ULN if liver metastasis is present) * No history of active malignancy (other than renal cell carcinoma) within the past 3 years other than nonmelanomatous skin cancer, in situ breast cancer, or in situ cervical cancer * No history of allergic reactions to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to vorinostat (SAHA) * No uncontrolled concurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, or cardiac arrhythmia * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * No clinically significant hypercalcemia * No significant traumatic injury within the past 21 days * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No gastrointestinal disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication * No requirement for IV alimentation * No active peptic ulcer disease * Recovered from prior therapy * Prior nephrectomy or resection of metastatic lesions allowed provided full surgical recovery has occurred * No chemotherapy within the past 4 weeks (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) * No radiotherapy within the past 4 weeks * No valproic acid for at least 2 weeks prior to study enrollment * No prior surgical procedures affecting absorption * No major surgery within the past 21 days * No concurrent antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients * No other concurrent investigational agents * No other concurrent anticancer therapy