DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder, urethra, or upper urinary tract

  • Mixed TCC and variant histologies (i.e., small cell, squamous cell, adenocarcinoma, or sarcoma) allowed if present in < 50% of the biopsy specimen
• Metastatic or unresectable disease

• Measurable disease

  • Measurable disease may include radiographic detection of metastases in lymph nodes (≥ 1.5 cm) or liver or lung (≥ 1.0 cm) OR pelvic mass palpable on examination under anesthesia

• Creatinine clearance < 60 mL/min

  • No renal insufficiency that requires hemodialysis
  • No renal insufficiency that is reversible in patients with tumor confined to the primary site (i.e., that is potentially resectable with neoadjuvant chemotherapy)
• No brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• See Disease Characteristics
• Zubrod performance status 0-2
• Platelet count > 100,000/mm^3
• Absolute granulocyte count > 1,500/mm^3
• Bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dL
• AST and ALT ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal
• LVEF > 40% OR normal EKG and no history of cardiac disease
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No severe or uncontrolled infection
• No New York Heart Association class III-IV congestive heart failure, unstable angina, or history of myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2
• No uncontrolled severe hypertension
• No persistently uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
• No chronic liver disease
• No HIV positivity
• No other malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer unless disease-free for the past 3 years
• No overt psychosis, mental disability, or other condition that would preclude giving informed consent
• No known sickle cell disease

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics

• No prior systemic chemotherapy including, adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy

  • Prior intravesicular chemotherapy allowed