Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Advanced Cancer of the Urothelium and Decreased Kidney Function

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed progressive regional or metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium Mixed histologies containing a component of transitional cell carcinoma allowed Bidimensionally measurable disease No clinical evidence of CNS metastases Clinically unsuspected organ-confined prostate cancer found at time of cystoprostatectomy allowed PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL SGOT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) and alkaline phosphatase normal OR Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 4 times ULN and SGOT normal OR SGOT less than 1.5 times ULN and alkaline phosphatase less than 2.5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 3.0 mg/dL Glomerular filtration rate no greater than 50 mL/min Cardiovascular: No history of American Heart Association class III or IV heart disease No uncontrolled congestive heart failure No severe cardiac arrhythmias Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception No preexisting peripheral neuropathy grade 2 or greater No active unresolved infection requiring parenteral antibiotics within the past 7 days No other malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior systemic biologic response modifier therapy for advanced disease Prior intravesical BCG for superficial disease allowed Chemotherapy: Prior intravesical chemotherapy for superficial disease allowed No prior chemotherapy for advanced disease At least 6 months since prior adjuvant/neoadjuvant methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (MVAC) or cisplatin, methotrexate, and vinblastine (CMV), or cisplatin as a radiosensitizer Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered Other: No concurrent hemodialysis