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