Tamoxifen in Treating Patients With Metastatic Bladder Cancer That Did Not Respond to Previous Chemotherapy

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

• Evidence of progressive metastatic disease that is unresectable

  • Stage T4b, N1-3, or M1 disease

• Must have received 1-2 prior systemic therapy regimens (chemotherapy, biological therapy, or both) that included at least one platinum-based chemotherapy regimen

  • Prior perioperative chemotherapy (adjuvant/neoadjuvant therapy) is considered one regimen
• Bidimensionally measurable disease (including bone disease) of ≥ 10 mm on spiral CT scan or ≥ 20 mm on conventional CT scan

• No uncontrolled CNS metastases

  • CNS metastases that have been previously treated with radiotherapy are allowed if patient is off corticosteroids

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• ECOG performance status 0-2
• Bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dL
• AST/ALT < 4 times upper limit of normal
• Not pregnant
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective barrier or other nonhormonal methods of contraception
• No New York Heart Association class III-IV cardiac disease (i.e., congestive heart failure or myocardial infarction within the past 6 months)
• No severe and/or uncontrolled medical disease (i.e., uncontrolled diabetes, chronic renal disease, or active uncontrolled infection)
• Not at high risk for deep vein thrombosis, as determined by the physician

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No more than 2 prior systemic therapy regimens, including chemotherapy and/or biological therapy
• More than 4 weeks since prior systemic therapy
• More than 2 weeks since prior major surgery