Docetaxel and Gemcitabine in Treating Patients With Progressive Regional or Metastatic Bladder Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven progressive regional or metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium or mixed histology containing a component of transitional cell carcinoma Failure of only 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for metastatic disease or in the adjuvant or neoadjuvant setting (not containing taxane or gemcitabine) Bidimensionally measurable disease No CNS metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 75,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL SGOT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) if alkaline phosphatase normal OR Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 4 times ULN if SGOT normal OR SGOT less than 1.5 times ULN AND alkaline phosphatase less than 2.5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.8 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No American Heart Association class III or IV heart disease No uncontrolled congestive heart failure No severe cardiac arrhythmias Neurologic: No sensory neuropathy grade 3 or 4 No prior peripheral neuropathy grade 2 or worse Other: No active unresolved infection being treated with parenteral antibiotics within the past 7 days No other malignancy within the past 5 years except: Curatively treated basal or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix Clinically unsuspected, organ confined prostate cancer found during cystoprostatectomy Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior systemic biologic response modifier therapy Prior intravesical BCG allowed Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery: At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered