DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically proven progressive unresectable regional or metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

• Measurable disease by CT or MRI scan

  • Greater than 10 mm

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 to 75

Performance status:

• WHO 0-2

Life expectancy:

• At least 3 months

Hematopoietic:

• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 150,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• Not specified

Renal:

• Creatinine less than 1.36 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

• No uncontrolled cardiac disease
• No severe cardiac arrhythmias

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• No other prior malignancy except curatively treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Prior intravesical immunotherapy for superficial disease allowed
• No prior systemic biologic response modifier therapy for advanced disease

Chemotherapy:

• Prior intravesical chemotherapy for superficial disease allowed
• No prior systemic chemotherapy for advanced disease

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• Prior radiotherapy allowed

Surgery:

• No prior surgery