OBJECTIVES:~Primary~Determine the response to PEG-interferon alfa-2b, sargramostim (GM-CSF), and thalidomide in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.~Secondary~Determine duration of response in patients treated with this regimen.~Determine the tolerance to and toxicity of this regimen in these patients.~Determine the median and progression-free survival of patients treated with this regimen.~OUTLINE: Patients receive PEG-interferon alfa-2b subcutaneously (SC) on days 1 and 8, sargramostim (GM-CSF) SC on days 1-10, and oral thalidomide once daily on days 1-21. Courses repeat every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.~Patients are followed every 3 months for 1 year, every 6 months for 2 years, and then annually thereafter.~PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 25 patients will be accrued for this study.
RATIONALE: PEG-interferon alfa-2b may interfere with the growth of tumor cells. Colony-stimulating factors such as sargramostim may increase the number of immune cells found in bone marrow or peripheral blood. Thalidomide may stop the growth of cancer by stopping blood flow to the tumor. Combining PEG-interferon alfa-2b with sargramostim and thalidomide may kill more tumor cells.~PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving PEG-interferon alfa-2b together with sargramostim and thalidomide works in treating patients with metastatic kidney cancer.