S0400, FR901228 in Treating Patients With Advanced Cancer of the Urothelium

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium (bladder, renal pelvis, ureter, or urethra) * Metastatic disease * Node-positive, non-metastatic disease that is unresectable is allowed * Poorly differentiated transitional cell carcinoma OR predominant transitional cell carcinoma with rare foci of squamous differentiation or rare foci of adenocarcinoma allowed * The following histologic types are not allowed: * Adenocarcinoma * Small cell carcinoma * Sarcoma * Squamous cell carcinoma * Mixed adeno/squamous/transitional histology * Measurable disease * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 2 cm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 1 cm by spiral CT scan * Soft tissue disease irradiated within the past 2 months is not considered measurable * Disease progression or recurrence after 1, and only 1, prior systemic chemotherapy regimen that included cisplatin or carboplatin for metastatic disease * Not curable by surgery or radiotherapy * No known brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * Not specified Performance status * Zubrod 0-2 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * White blood cell (WBC) count ≥ 3,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * Aspartate aminotransferase (SGOT) / alanine aminotransferase (SGPT) ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Bilirubin normal Renal * Creatinine ≤ 2 times ULN Cardiovascular * Corrected QT interval (QTc) \< 500 msec * Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \> 40% by Multi Gated Acquisition Scan (MUGA) * No New York Heart Association class III or IV congestive heart failure * No myocardial infarction within the past year * No uncontrolled dysrhythmias * No poorly controlled angina * No serious ventricular arrhythmia (ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation ≥ 3 beats in a row) * No left ventricular hypertrophy on EKG * No other significant cardiac disease Other * Potassium ≥ 4 mmol/L * Magnesium ≥ 2 mg/dL * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No prior allergic reaction to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to FR901228 (depsipeptide) * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or adequately treated stage I or II cancer in complete remission PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 28 days since prior chemotherapy * No prior FR901228 (depsipeptide) * No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * No concurrent hormonal therapy Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * More than 28 days since prior radiotherapy * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery * More than 28 days since prior surgery Other * Recovered from all prior therapy * More than 28 days since prior intravesical therapy * No concurrent hydrochlorothiazide * No concurrent agent that causes QTc prolongation * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients * No other concurrent investigational histone deacetylase inhibitor agents or drugs (e.g., sodium valproate) * No other concurrent anticancer therapy