Gemcitabine, Cisplatin, and Amifostine Following Surgery in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced Bladder Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Completely resected locally advanced bladder cancer

T2-4, N0-2
Post radical cystectomy with no gross residual disease
No evidence of metastases by CT of chest, abdomen, and pelvis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Performance status:

Karnofsky 70-100

Life expectancy:

At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic:

WBC at least 3,500/mm^3
Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3
Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL (transfusion allowed)

Hepatic:

Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
AST and ALT no greater than 3 times ULN

Renal:

Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL OR
Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min

Other:

Not pregnant or nursing
Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study participation
No active infection
No serious concurrent systemic disorders that would preclude study participation
No metastatic cancer in past 5 years

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

No concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

No concurrent hormonal therapy except contraceptives and replacement steroids

Radiotherapy:

No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

See Disease Characteristics
At least 4 but no more than 8 weeks since radical cystectomy

Other:

No other concurrent experimental medications