Talimogene Laherparepvec in Treating Patients With Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Transitional Cell Carcinoma

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically document transitional cell carcinoma with the presence of any of the following stages: carcinoma in situ (CIS), high-grade Ta, or any grade T1, detectable at the time of study accrual; combinations of the aforementioned stages are acceptable; subjects with mixed histology are required to have a dominant transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) pattern * Failure of prior intravesical treatment(s), one of which must include a course of BCG; failure is defined as evidence of TCC on cystoscopic examination and biopsy or cystoscopic examination and urine cytology at least 6 weeks from completion of last treatment * Patient is either ineligible for or declines radical cystectomy; the investigator must explain that a delay in cystectomy may increase the patient?s chance of disease progression * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 - 2 * Ability to understand and willingness to sign written informed consent * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \< 2.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) and total bilirubin \< 1.5 x institutional ULN * Absolut neutrophil count (ANC) \> 1500/uL * Platelets \>= 75,000/uL * Hemoglobin \> 8 mg/dL without need for hematopoetic growth factor or transfusion support * Estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \> 30 ml/min * Serum creatinine less than 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN), OR 24-hour creatinine clearance = or 60 mL/min for subject with creatinine levels more than 1.5 x ULN; (Note: creatinine clearance need not be determined if the baseline serum creatinine is within normal limits; creatinine clearance should be determined per institutional standard) * Prothrombin time (PT)/international normalized ratio (INR), partial thromboplastin time (PTT) =\< 1.5 x ULN * No known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1/2, human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-I/II * No currently active hepatitis B or C * Males with partners of childbearing potential, must agree for the duration of the treatment with talimogene laherparepvec and continuing for 3 months after the last tumor injection of talimogene laherparepvec to either: * Abstain from sexual activity * Use highly effective barrier protection (latex condom) * Female subjects of childbearing potential should have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to enrollment; if urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required * If a pregnancy occurs, the study doctor must be notified; the study doctor should notify the study sponsor as well as Amgen of the pregnancy, discuss any follow-up with the subject (and/or his partner), and ask for information on the pregnancy outcome; the patient should be asked if she wishes to consent to follow up through the Amgen pregnancy surveillance program * If the female partner is already pregnant when the male subject begins treatment with talimogene laherparepvec, he must refrain from any sort of sexual activity that could expose his partner or the unborn baby to talimogene laherparepvec through semen, or wear a latex condom during sexual activity while receiving treatment with talimogene laherparepvec and for at least 3 months after the last talimogene laherparepvec administration Exclusion Criteria: * Any subjects with muscle-invasive TCC (stages T2 - T4) OR any known TCC of the ureter or renal pelvis are not allowed * Any history of metastatic TCC; subjects with suspected malignant lymphadenopathy in the abdomen or pelvis are not allowed * Known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases; subjects with previously treated brain metastases may participate provided they are stable (without evidence of progression by imaging for at least four weeks prior to the first dose of trial treatment and any neurologic symptoms have returned to baseline), have no evidence of new or enlarging brain metastases, and are not using steroids \> 10 mg/day of prednisone or equivalent; the exception does not include carcinomatosus meningitis which is excluded regardless of clinical stability * Patients whom, in the opinion of the treating urologic oncologist, should undergo cystectomy due to high-risk features * Intravesical chemo- or biologic therapy within 6 weeks of first treatment * Prior systemic chemotherapy for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder; subjects who have received prior intravesical chemotherapy are allowed if completed 28 days prior to cycle 1 day * Prior radiation therapy for TCC * History or evidence of active autoimmune disease, requiring systemic steroid therapy within 28 days of study screening or other systemic immunosuppressive medications (including but not limited to cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, methotrexate, thalidomide, and anti-tumor necrosis factor \[anti-TNF\] agents) or anticipated requirement for systemic immunosuppressive medications during the trial * Patients on inhaled or topical steroids are eligible * Patients who have received acute, low-dose, systemic immunosuppressant medications (e.g., a one-time dose of dexamethasone for nausea) may be enrolled in the study after discussion with and approval by the principal investigator * Replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxin, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment * Major surgery (requiring the use of a general anesthetic) within 4 weeks of study enrollment with the exception of transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) * Concurrent use of investigational agents * History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to talimogene laherparepvec * Malignancies other than urothelial cancer (UC) within 5 years prior to cycle 1, day 1, with the exception of those with a negligible risk of metastasis or death treated with expected curative outcome (such as adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, basal or squamous cell skin cancer, localized prostate cancer treated with curative intent and absence of PSA relapse, or ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast treated surgically with curative intent) or incidental prostate cancer * Patients are considered to be free of active malignancy if they have completed therapy and have a \< 30% risk of relapse * Uncontrolled cystitis, gross hematuria, bladder pain, or bladder spasms, other uncontrolled concurrent illness, or any underlying medical condition, including any underlying conditions resulting in chronic immunosuppression which in the Investigator?s opinion will make the administration of talimogene laherparepvec hazardous, or obscure the interpretation of adverse events * Currently known active infection with HIV, hepatitis B or C virus * Clinically significant obstructive airway disease * Active HSV infection requiring treatment, or requiring intermittent or chronic systemic (intravenous or oral) treatment with an antiherpetic drug (e.g. acyclovir) * Pregnant or nursing women are excluded * Female subject of childbearing potential who is unwilling to use acceptable method(s) of effective contraception during study treatment and through 3 months after the last dose of talimogene laherparepvec * Received live vaccine within 28 days prior to enrollment * Active herpetic skin lesions or prior complications of herpetic infection (e.g., herpetic keratitis or encephalitis) * Previous treatment with talimogene laherparepvec or any other oncolytic virus