S1011 Standard or Extended Pelvic Lymphadenectomy in Treating Patients Undergoing Surgery for Invasive Bladder Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed urothelial carcinoma of the bladder * Stage T2, T3, or T4a disease * No clinical stage consistent with a low-risk of node metastasis (CIS only, T1) * No T4b disease (fixed lesion) * Disease that requires primary radical cystectomy and lymph node dissection for definitive treatment * No laparoscopic surgery * Predominant urothelial carcinoma with any of the following elements allowed: * Adenocarcinoma * Squamous cell carcinoma * Micropapillary or minor components of other rare phenotype * No pure squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma * No visceral or nodal metastatic disease proximal to the common iliac bifurcation by 2-view chest x-ray and abdominal-pelvic imaging by computerized tomography or MRI of the abdomen and pelvis * No intra-operative pelvic lymph node involvement (confirmed by frozen section) at or above the bifurcation of the common iliac vessels in any of the extended template PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Zubrod performance status 0-2 * ALT and AST ≤ upper limit of normal (ULN)\* * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ ULN\* * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use an effective contraception * No other prior malignancy except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, in situ cervical cancer, or stage I or II cancer from which the patient is in complete remission for the past 5 years * Medically suitable to undergo cystectomy, in the physician's opinion NOTE: \*Leve…