17-N-Allylamino-17-Demethoxygeldanamycin in Treating Patients With Metastatic Kidney Cancer

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed renal cell carcinoma * Papillary OR clear cell histology * If other histologies are present, clear cell or papillary must be predominant * Metastatic disease * Measurable disease * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan * No brain metastases unless previously treated with radiotherapy or surgery AND asymptomatic with no active brain metastases detectable by CT scan or MRI for ≥ 6 months PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * WBC ≥ 3,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * AST and ALT ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN Renal * Creatinine ≤ 2.0 times ULN Cardiovascular * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia * No severe valvular disease Pulmonary * No severe debilitating pulmonary disease Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No allergy to egg or egg products * No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to 17-N-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG) * No active or ongoing infection requiring IV antibiotics * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * No other uncontrolled illness PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * No more than 1 prior cytokine-based regimen * No concurrent biologic therapy Chemotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery * More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery Other * Recovered from prior therapy * No more than 1 prior non-cytokine-based regimen * No other prior systemic treatment regimens * No other concurrent cytotoxic therapy * No other concurrent anticancer therapy * No other concurrent investigational agents