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 o…