Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed stage IV adenocarcinoma or transitional cell carcinoma of
the kidney that is unlikely to respond to existing therapy

- Measurable disease by MRI or CT scan

- Tumor must be more than 2 cm for lymph nodes in head, neck, axillary, inguinal, or
femoral areas and at least 0.5 cm for other locations

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

- At least 2 months

Hematopoietic:

- WBC at least 2,000/mm^3

- Platelet count at least 50,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

- No hepatic insufficiency

- Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL

- SGOT and SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

- No renal insufficiency

- Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/mL

- No history of renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Cardiovascular:

- No known chronic heart failure

- No uncontrolled hypertension

- No history of congestive heart failure

- No history of other cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of
sodium

Pulmonary:

- No severe lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Other:

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study
participation

- Not a high medical or psychiatric risk

- No concurrent nonmalignant systemic disease that would preclude therapy

- No active infection

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy

- No concurrent immunomodulatory agents

Chemotherapy:

- At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) and recovered

- No concurrent antineoplastic agents

Endocrine therapy:

- Concurrent corticosteroids allowed

Radiotherapy:

- At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

- Recovered from prior surgery

Other:

- Prior cytodifferentiating agents allowed

- No prior antineoplastons