DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC)

  • Papillary RCC allowed only with immunohistochemical evidence of 2+ or 3+ epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression
  • Refractory to interleukin-2 (IL-2) or interferon-based therapy OR
  • Newly diagnosed, untreated disease in patients who are not candidates for IL- 2-based treatment

• At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion

  • At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• Tumor blocks available for EGFR expression analysis
• No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• Over 18

Performance status

• ECOG 0-2 OR
• Karnofsky 70-100%

Life expectancy

• At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic

• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3
• Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL

Hepatic

• Bilirubin normal
• AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN if liver metastases present)

Renal

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN OR
• Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min
• Corrected calcium less than 12.0 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris
• No cardiac arrhythmia

Opthalmic

• No abnormalities of the cornea (e.g., dry eye syndrome or Sjogren's syndrome)
• No congenital abnormalities (e.g., Fuch's dystrophy)
• No abnormal slit-lamp examination using a vital dye (e.g., fluorescein or Bengal-Rose)
• No abnormal corneal sensitivity test (e.g., Schirmer test or similar tear production test)

Gastrointestinal

• No gastrointestinal tract disease resulting in an inability to take oral medications or a requirement for IV alimentation
• No active peptic ulcer disease

Other

• No other malignancy within the past 3 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or carcinoma in situ of the breast
• No prior allergic reactions to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to erlotinib
• No other uncontrolled concurrent illness
• No ongoing or active infection
• No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study participation
• No significant traumatic injury within the past 21 days
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• Concurrent epoetin alfa allowed

Chemotherapy

• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery

• Prior nephrectomy or resection of metastatic lesions allowed
• At least 21 days since prior major surgery
• Recovered from prior surgery
• No prior surgical procedures affecting absorption

Other

• No prior EGFR-targeting therapies
• No other concurrent investigational agents
• No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
• No other concurrent antitumor therapies
• Concurrent bisphosphonates allowed
• Concurrent hypocalcemic agents allowed