DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urothelium (renal pelvis, ureter, bladder, or urethra)

  • Mixed histology carcinoma with a TCC component allowed
• Progressive regional disease OR
• Metastatic disease

• Failed 1 and only 1 prior systemic chemotherapy regimen containing cisplatin or carboplatin in the adjuvant, neoadjuvant, or metastatic setting

  • May have included taxane-based therapy
• Measurable disease outside prior irradiation field
• Previously resected and irradiated CNS metastases with evidence of stable disease allowed

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• AST no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

• No prior severe cardiovascular disease (American Heart Association class III or IV heart disease)
• No uncontrolled congestive heart failure
• No ventricular dysrhythmia

Other:

• No active unresolved infection requiring parenteral antibiotics within the past week
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or clinically unsuspected organ-confined prostate cancer treated with prior prostatectomy
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• No prior systemic biologic response modifier therapy

Chemotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered