Bortezomib in Treating Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Transitional Cell Cancer of the Bladder, Renal Pelvis, or Ureter

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed transitional cell cancer of the urothelium, including the bladder, renal pelvis, or ureter * Advanced or metastatic disease * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion * At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan * The following are not considered measurable disease: * Bone lesions * Leptomeningeal disease * Ascites * Pleural/pericardial effusion * Inflammatory breast disease * Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis * Abdominal masses that are not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques * Cystic lesions * No known brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-1 OR * Karnofsky 80-100% Life expectancy * More than 3 months Hematopoietic * WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * Bilirubin no greater than 1.25 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST/ALT no greater than 3 times ULN (less than 5 times ULN if liver metastases are present) Renal * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN OR * Creatinine clearance at least 45 mL/min Cardiovascular * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Able and willing to undergo biopsy of tumor lesions * No other primary cancer requiring treatment within the past 3 years except curatively treated nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix * No grade 1 or greater peripheral neuropathy * No ongoing or active infection * No other concurrent uncontrolled illness * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Not specified Chemotherapy * No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimen for metastatic disease * Prior neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy allowed provided it was completed more than 12 months prior to study entry * Patients who relapse within 12 months after completion of neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy are allowed provided they did not receive chemotherapy for recurrent disease * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered * Prior chemotherapy as a radiosensitizer is allowed\* NOTE: \*May be administered concurrently with radiotherapy; may be in addition to a single line of therapy for locally advanced or metastatic disease Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * See Chemotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior myelotoxic radiotherapy (more than 3,000 cGy to fields including substantial bone marrow) and recovered * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery * At least 4 weeks since prior surgery for cancer of the urothelium (except nephrostomy tubes and ureteral stents) Other * At least 4 weeks since any prior therapy and recovered * No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies intended to treat the malignancy * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients