Ixabepilone in Treating Patients With Advanced Urinary Tract Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urothelium(renal pelvis, ureter, bladder, or urethra) * Mixed histology carcinoma with a TCC component allowed * Progressive regional disease * Metastatic disease * Failed 1 and only 1 prior systemic chemotherapy regimen containing cisplatin or carboplatin in the adjuvant, neoadjuvant, or metastatic setting * May have included taxane-based therapy * Measurable disease outside prior irradiation field * Previously resected and irradiated CNS metastases with evidence of stable disease allowed * Performance status - ECOG 0-2 * Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL * AST no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL * No prior severe cardiovascular disease (American Heart Association class III or IV heart disease) * No uncontrolled congestive heart failure * No ventricular dysrhythmia * No active unresolved infection requiring parenteral antibiotics within the past week * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or clinically unsuspected organ-confined prostate cancer treated with prior prostatectomy * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No prior systemic biologic response modifier therapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered * No concurrent radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered