DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed advanced transitional cell urothelial cancer

  • Clinical Stage IV: T any, N1-3, M0; T any, N any, M1; or cT4, Nx, M0 (bladder tumors)
  • Pathological Stage III or IV bladder cancer: T any, N1-3, M0; T3b, N0, M0; T4, N0, M0; and T4, Nx, M0
  • Pathological Stage III or IV urothelial cancer of the renal pelvis or ureter: T any, N1-3, M0; T3, N0, M0; T4, N0, M0; and surgery has been performed within 10 weeks of initiation of therapy
• Impaired renal function (See Renal function tests)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• Karnofsky 60-100% OR
• ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

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

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin less than 1.5 times normal
• Alkaline phosphatase less than 2 times normal
• SGOT less than 2 times normal

Renal:

• Creatinine greater than 1.5 mg/dL but no greater than 2.5 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance 30-59 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

• Normal cardiac function by history, physical examination, and chest radiograph OR
• If prior cardiac disease, left ventricular ejection fraction must be at least 50% by radionuclide ventriculogram or echocardiogram
• No serious cardiac arrhythmias; including first, second, and third degree heart block
• No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease

Other:

• No uncontrolled infection
• No other active cancer, except nonmelanomatous skin cancer and in situ carcinoma of the cervix curatively treated
• Not pregnant
• Effective barrier contraception required for all fertile patients during and for 6 months after therapy (encouraged to continue for 2 years or longer)

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• No prior systemic chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• No prior radiotherapy to the bladder
• At least 4 weeks since any other prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics