Vatalanib and Everolimus in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed solid tumor with radiographic evidence of metastatic disease * No standard therapy exists (phase I) * Unresectable or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (phase Ib) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Karnofsky performance status 70-100% * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³ * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³ * Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL * AST or ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Total cholesterol \< 300 mg/dL * Triglycerides \< 350 mg/dL * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN OR creatinine clearance \> 40 mL/min * Negative proteinuria by dip stick OR total urinary protein ≤ 500 mg * No uncontrolled high blood pressure, history of labile hypertension, or history of poor compliance with antihypertensive regimen * No unstable angina pectoris * No symptomatic congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease) * No uncontrolled serious cardiac arrhythmia (symptomatic supraventricular tachycardia or any ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation) * No myocardial infarction in the past 6 months * No uncontrolled diabetes * No interstitial pneumonia or extensive and symptomatic interstitial fibrosis of the lung * No active or uncontrolled infection * No uncontrolled hyperlipidemia * No chronic renal disease * No acute or chronic liver disease (e.g., hepatitis or cirrhosis) * No impaired gastrointestinal (GI) function OR GI disease that may significantly alter the absorption of vatalanib or everolimus, including any of the following: * Ulcerative disease * Uncontrolled nausea and vomiting with solid food * Watery diarrhea \> 5 times daily * Malabsorption syndrome * Bowel obstruction * Inability to swallow the tablets * No confirmed HIV infection * Not pregnant * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No other concurrent severe and/or uncontrolled medical condition that would preclude study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * Recovered from prior therapy * No prior antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy * More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery\* (laparotomy) * More than 2 weeks since prior minor surgery\* * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin C or nitrosoureas) * More than 6 weeks since prior antibody therapy * More than 2 weeks since prior biologic/immunotherapy * More than 2 weeks since prior limited-field radiotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior full-field radiotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior investigational agents * Prior transfusions allowed provided blood counts are stable for \> 2 weeks * Concurrent epoetin alfa allowed * No concurrent warfarin or similar oral anticoagulants that are metabolized by the cytochrome P450 system * Heparin and low molecular weight heparin allowed NOTE: \*Insertion of a vascular access device is not considered major or minor surgery