DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Completely resected locally advanced bladder cancer

  • T2-4, N0-2
• Post radical cystectomy with no gross residual disease
• No evidence of metastases by CT of chest, abdomen, and pelvis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• Karnofsky 70-100

Life expectancy:

• At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic:

• WBC at least 3,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3
• Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL (transfusion allowed)

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST and ALT no greater than 3 times ULN

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study participation
• No active infection
• No serious concurrent systemic disorders that would preclude study participation
• No metastatic cancer in past 5 years

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• No concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

• No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• No concurrent hormonal therapy except contraceptives and replacement steroids

Radiotherapy:

• No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 but no more than 8 weeks since radical cystectomy

Other:

• No other concurrent experimental medications