DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• 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

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• 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 componenets (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

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• 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