Gemcitabine Hydrochloride, Cisplatin, and Sunitinib Malate as First-Line Therapy in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced And/or Metastatic Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Urothelium (SUCCINCT)

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium * Pure or mixed histology * Upper or lower urinary tract * Radiologically measurable, locally advanced and/or metastatic disease not amenable to curative treatment with surgery or radiotherapy meeting 1 of the following criteria: * T4b (bladder) or T4 (renal pelvis/ureter), any N, any M * Any T, N2-3, any M * Any T, any N, M1 * No urothelial cancer for which subsequent radical treatment is being considered with a view to possibly cure the disease * No history of CNS metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * WHO performance status 0-2 * Life expectancy \> 3 months * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1.5 x 10\^9/L * Platelet count ≥ 100 x 10\^9/L * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * ALT and ALP ≤ 2.5 times ULN * GFR ≥ 60 mL/min (uncorrected for surface area and measured by isotopic means) * PT or INR ≤ 1.5 times ULN * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Fit to receive cisplatin-containing combination chemotherapy * No previous malignancy other than nonmelanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or incidental localized prostate cancer * No known HIV positivity or chronic hepatitis B or C infection * No uncontrolled hypertension * No symptomatic coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction within the past 6 months, congestive cardiac failure (NYHA class III-IV disease), or uncontrol…