Sunitinib in Treating Patients With Kidney Cancer That Has Spread to the Brain

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the kidney * Metastatic disease * Measurable disease by RECIST criteria * Presence of previously untreated or recurrent brain metastases following radiotherapy or surgery * No brain metastasis revealed by hemorrhage * No single brain metastasis \< 2 cm that is accessible by surgery or radiosurgery PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * WHO performance status 0-2 (unless paresis due to brain metastases) * ANC \> 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count \> 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin \> 8 g/dL * PT or INR \< 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST/ALT \< 2.5 times ULN (\< 5 times ULN in the case of liver metastases) * Total bilirubin \< 1.5 times ULN * Serum creatinine \< 200 μmol/L * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for up to 30 days following completion of study treatment * No other cancer except for in situ cervical cancer, curatively treated basal cell carcinoma of the skin, or other curatively treated cancer without evidence of recurrence within the past 5 years * No uncontrolled hypertension (systolic BP ≥ 160 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mm Hg) * None of the following cardiac conditions within the past 6 months: * Significant cardiovascular disease * NYHA class III-IV congestive heart failure * Myocardial infarction * Unstable angina * Severe arrhythmia * Cerebrovascular accident * Severe thromboembolism * No serious neuropsy…