OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the efficacy of R115777 in terms of objective response in patients with advanced transitional cell cancer of the urothelial tract. II. Determine the safety of this treatment regimen in these patients. III. Determine the time to disease progression in these patients with this treatment regimen.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Patients receive oral R115777 every 12 hours for 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Treatment repeats every 28 days for at least 2 courses. Patients are followed every 3 months for up to 5 years.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 18-32 patients will be accrued for this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelial tract not curable by surgery or radiotherapy Bladder, renal pelvis, or ureter Stage II, III, or IV (T2-4, N0-3, M0-1) with unresectable disease Poorly differentiated transitional cell carcinoma or predominant transitional cell carcinoma with foci of squamous differentiation or rare foci of adenocarcinoma allowed No adenocarcinoma, small cell carcinoma, sarcoma, or squamous cell carcinoma Bidimensionally measurable disease No disease confined to the bladder only No soft tissue disease irradiated within the past 2 months No known active CNS disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm3 Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: SGOT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Bilirubin normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN Other: No unresolved, active bacterial infection requiring antibiotics No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or adequately treated stage I or II cancer in complete remission Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent myeloid colony stimulating factors Chemotherapy: At least 12 months since prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy and recovered Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery: At least 4 weeks since prior surgery and recovered Other: No prior systemic therapy (including investigational agents) for metastatic bladder cancer At least 4 weeks since prior intravesical therapy and recovered At least 30 days since prior participation in other investigational drug trial No concurrent intravesical therapy No other concurrent therapy for cancer