Inclusion Criteria:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed renal cell carcinoma

- Advanced or metastatic disease

- Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion > 20 mm by
conventional techniques or > 10 mm by spiral CT scan (phase II only)

- Failed ≥ 2 prior treatment regimens, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy (i.e.,
interleukin or interferon), biological agents (i.e., kinase inhibitors), or
combinations thereof

- An overlap between classes of therapies given concurrently will be counted as 2
prior treatment regimens

- No known brain metastases

- ECOG performance status (PS) 0-2 OR Karnofsky PS 60-100%

- Life expectancy > 3 months

- WBC ≥ 3,000/mm^3

- Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3

- Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

- Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL

- AST and ALT < 2.5 times upper limit of normal

- Creatinine ≤ 2 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance > 50 mL/min

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective double-method contraception for 1 month before,
during, and for 1 month after completion of study treatment

- No history of allergic reactions or hypersensitivity attributed to compounds of
similar chemical or biologic composition to vorinostat (SAHA), isotretinoin, or other
agents or components (e.g., parabens) used in this study

- No uncontrolled intercurrent illness, including, but not limited to, any of the
following:

- Ongoing or active infection

- Symptomatic congestive heart failure

- Unstable angina pectoris

- Cardiac arrhythmia

- Psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance

- See Disease Characteristics

- Recovered from prior therapy

- At least 2 weeks since prior valproic acid or any other histone deacetylase inhibitor

- At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

- At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin)

- At least 6 weeks since prior chemoimmunotherapy

- No concurrent antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients

- No other concurrent anticancer therapy, including radiation, biologic, or
chemotherapeutic agents, for renal cell carcinoma or other tumors

- No other concurrent investigational agents, valproic acid, or other retinoid