DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed metastatic renal cell carcinoma
• Prior removal of primary tumors

• Bidimensionally measurable disease

  • Bone-only disease is not considered measurable
• Progressive disease following no more than 2 prior biologic therapy (e.g., interleukin-2, interferon alfa, vaccine, or dendritic cell therapy) or fluorouracil-containing (single-agent or in combination therapy) regimens

• No known history of CNS metastasis unless all of the following are true:

  • Previously treated
  • Neurologically stable
  • No requirement for IV steroids or anticonvulsants
  • No requirement for oral steroids and no evidence of active or residual CNS disease on CT scan or MRI
• Negative brain scan (CT scan or MRI) required if neurologic signs or symptoms suggestive of CNS metastasis present

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 16 and over

Performance status:

• Zubrod 0-2

Life expectancy:

• At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic:

• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• SGPT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal
• PT and PTT normal
• Fibrinogen normal
• D-Dimer assay normal

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

• See Surgery
• No active congestive heart failure
• No uncontrolled angina
• No myocardial infarction or severe/unstable angina within the past 6 months
• No uncontrolled hypertension
• No uncompensated coronary artery disease on electrocardiogram or physical examination
• No severe peripheral vascular disease
• No deep vein or arterial thrombosis within the past 3 months

Pulmonary:

• No pulmonary embolism within the past 3 months

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No concurrent serious infection
• No overt psychosis, mental disability, or incompetence
• No diabetes mellitus
• No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No hypersensitivity or allergic reaction to paclitaxel

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No other concurrent anti-cancer biologic therapy

Chemotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No concurrent anti-cancer chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• See Disease Characteristics

Radiotherapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• No sole indicator lesion within the previously irradiated port
• No concurrent anti-cancer radiotherapy

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered
• At least 1 year since prior bypass surgery for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease
• No concurrent surgery for cancer

Other:

• No other investigational drugs (e.g., analgesics or antiemetics) for at least 28 days prior to and after study