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: \*Levels may be ≥ ULN provided metastatic disease is excluded using dedicated liver imaging, bone scan, or biopsy.

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* No prior partial cystectomy for invasive bladder cancer
* No prior pelvic surgery that would obviate a complete extended lymphadenectomy (e.g., aorto-femoral/iliac bypass)
* Prior neoadjuvant chemotherapy for this cancer allowed provided it has been completed and patient has recovered
* No prior pelvic irradiation