DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

* Any T, N+, M0 OR
* T3a-4a, N0, M0
* At least 6 weeks but no more than 3 months since prior complete resection of bladder

* Cystoprostatectomy plus pelvic lymph node dissection in males
* Cystectomy/total abdominal hysterectomy/bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy plus pelvic lymph node dissection in females
* Negative surgical margins
* Carcinoma in situ allowed
* No partial cystectomy or transurethral bladder tumor resection as definitive loco-regional therapy
* Prostate cancer detected in resected specimen allowed if post-operative PSA is no more than 0.05 mg/dL
* No metastatic or recurrent disease by post-operative chest x-ray and CT scan of abdomen and pelvis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* ECOG 0-1

Hematopoietic:

* Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count ≥ 150,000/mm\^3

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2 times ULN
* AST ≤ 2 times ULN

Renal:

* Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL OR
* Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

* Normal cardiac function by history, physical exam, or chest radiograph
* Left ventricular ejection fraction at least 50% by radionuclide ventriculogram or echocardiogram, for prior cardiac disease
* No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease
* No serious cardiac arrhythmias including first-, second-, and third-degree heart block

Other:

* Negative pregnancy test
* No uncontrolled infection
* No other active cancer within the past 5 years except non-melanoma skin cancer or curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* Not specified

Chemotherapy:

* No prior systemic chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

* Not specified

Radiotherapy:

* No prior radiotherapy to bladder