Chemotherapy and Biological Therapy in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Kidney Cancer

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Biological therapies such as interferon alfa use different ways to stimulate the immune system and stop cancer cells from growing. Combining biological therapy with chemotherapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of combining chemotherapy with biological therapy in treating patients who have locally advanced or metastatic kidney cancer.